A juvenile humpback whale was killed by an apparent ship strike in Washington state, NOAA Fisheries public affairs officer Michael Milstein said Friday.
Milstein said the Makah Tribe's marine mammal biologist responded on Thursday to a reported dead whale near Neah Bay.
A necropsy on the whale was conducted.
Cascadia Research Collective assisted the Makah Tribe's marine mammal biologist in conducting the necropsy.
Officials determined the 31-foot juvenile whale was killed by an apparent ship strike.
More study will be conducted to understand the condition of the whale.
Milstein said the whale was within the usual fishing area of the Makah Tribe; the tribe may use the whale for subsistence.
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