A humpback whale that came ashore twice this spring, first in Marblehead and then 300 yards down the beach in Swampscott, was buried Saturday under about 10 feet of sand at Preston Beach.
COURTESY PHOTO / SWAMPSCOTT TOWN ADMINSTRATOR SEAN FITZGERALD
The 42-foot, 65,000-pound female first appeared among the rocks near Preston Beach in Marblehead on April 25. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tufts University and Seacoast Science Center examined the whale’s body, determining that she had not died by human-made causes. Her body did show signs of entanglement, but those injuries did not appear recent.
Marblehead Harbor Master Mark Souza worked with the EPA and Smith Marine to tow the whale first to a mooring about one mile off-shore and then farther out to sea. The operation cost $27,000.
On May 14, the whale’s body reappeared, this time in Swampscott.
Swampscott Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald consulted with several state and federal environmental agencies to come up with a plan to bury the whale, nicknamed “Espresso.”
“Espresso is at her final resting place,” Fitzgerald told the Current Saturday afternoon. “Huge thanks to Meninno Construction and Gino Cresto, assistant town administrator and DPW director. I appreciate all the patience as we dealt with this complicated environmental issue.”
COURTESY VIDEO / SWAMPSCOTT TOWN ADMINISTRATOR SEAN FITZGERALD
Fitzgerald said he did not yet know the total cost of the burial.
“It’s unfortunate that the state does not have a pool of revenue for sea coast towns that may have to deal with this on an infrequent basis. This doesn’t happen often, but when it happens, it’s a significant burden to municipalities.”
Editor Leigh Blander is an experienced TV, radio and print journalist.
