Necropsy won't be possible because of blue whale's advanced state of decomposition
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is confirming a second blue whale death last month in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and is again saying an examination of the cause will not be possible.
The blue whale carcass was reported to the department Sept. 7 by a cargo ship and confirmed by Transport Canada and Fisheries Department aircraft about 110 kilometres north of Gaspesie.
DFO said it identified the species from photos, but officials determined a necropsy wasn't feasible due to the advanced state of decomposition.
Spokesperson Barre Campbell said in an email the animal's large size and distance from shore also factored into the decision.
The department had earlier reported a dead juvenile blue whale found on Sept. 18 just northwest of Port Hood, N.S., in Cape Breton, saying a full necropsy wasn't possible in that case either.
A spokesperson said this was because the whale's body was decomposed and in an inaccessible location, and there wasn't a suitable vessel available to tow the whale
