Tuesday, February 7, 2023
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Earlier today, the Virginia Aquarium received a report of a dead humpback whale floating in the waters of Virginia Beach, near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team personnel coordinated with the Virginia Beach Police Department’s Marine Patrol to determine the whale’s specific location.
The Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers to secure the whale near Lynnhaven Beach, by First Landing State Park. Arrangements are being made to bring the whale on shore on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, for an examination and necropsy.
The public is asked to maintain a safe distance from the whale and any associated gear. All whales are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Action which makes touching these animals illegal.
Please report stranded marine mammal and sea turtle sightings immediately to the Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Response hotline at (757) 385-7575 with the exact location.
The Virginia Aquarium’s Stranding Response Program is largely a volunteer-based group supported by the Virginia Aquarium Foundation through donations from the community and grant-making organizations.
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center's mission is to inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research, and sustainable practices. The Virginia Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. The Aquarium is also a member of World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, just south of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports the work of the Virginia Aquarium. The Foundation procures and maintains the Aquarium's exhibits, including the animals and habitats. It is also responsible for annual and capital fundraising, administration and funding for the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program, conservation and scientific research efforts, and the Aquarium's mission-related education programs. You can be a part of our mission by making a tax-deductible donation to support our programming.
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