A dead 43-foot female fin whale remains partially grounded near the jetty in Barnegat Light as hazardous conditions and environmental restrictions prevent heavy equipment from moving the carcass.

The Marine Mammal Stranding Center team has been on scene for three days after a boater first spotted the floating whale 1.5 miles off Long Beach Island on Sunday.

Because the carcass is resting on state property in a protected shorebird nesting habitat, heavy machinery cannot be brought in to pull the whale out of the water. Towing the whale to another location is also impossible because of severe decomposition; tow lines would tear through the tissue and break the carcass apart.

Despite hazardous surf conditions shifting the heavy carcass, the MMSC Stranding Team safely collected measurements and skin samples for genetic analysis. However, team members were unable to safely retrieve internal tissue samples for further testing.

MMSC continues to work with local, state and federal agencies to monitor the situation. Public updates will be posted through the MMSC Media Center if the carcass washes into an accessible area.

Officials remind the public that marine mammals are federally protected and urge residents to avoid touching or taking any part of the carcass.