Humpback whale crashes into boat off Long Island
The incident is trending due to social media footage of a humpback whale erupting from the water and colliding with a boat. The impact caused structural damage to the vessel but left the passengers and the whale unharmed.
What happened
- Earlier
Steven Heid, his father-in-law, and nephew spotted a humpback whale and bunker fish near Moriches Inlet [1], [2].
- Earlier
The group shut off their engine to be respectful of the wildlife [1], [2].
- Earlier
The whale slammed into the side of the 34-foot boat, tearing a hole in the hull and ripping off a door [1], [2].
- Earlier
The whale swam away unharmed and the boat remained seaworthy [1], [2].
What you need to know
The boat's engine was off during the encounter to avoid hurting the animal [1], [3].
New York's Whale Awareness Act requires boaters to keep a distance of 300 feet from whales [2], [3].
Humpback whales in New York waters can reach 50 feet in length and weigh up to 40 tons [2].
The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society encourages reporting whale sightings to [email protected] [3].
It is not confirmed if the boat owner's insurance will cover the repair costs [1].
Background
The encounter happened near Fire Island, an area where humpback whales often feed on bunker fish [2].
Experts from the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society noted that the fishermen appeared to follow safety protocols by stopping the vessel [2], [3].
Questions people ask
Was anyone injured in the collision?
No, the passengers were not injured and the whale swam away unharmed [1], [2].
How much damage was done to the boat?
The impact tore a hole in the hull and ripped a door from its hinges, though the boat stayed afloat [2].
Where this came from
[1] 6abc.com
Video captures humpback whale crashing into boat off Long Island
Preview image from 6abc.com
[2] cbsnews.com
Video shows humpback whale crashing into Long Island fishing boat
Preview image from cbsnews.com
[3] longisland.news12.com
CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Whale slams into boat outside Moriches Inlet
Preview image from longisland.news12.com
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