FIRE ISLAND, New York (WABC) -- A dead humpback whale was discovered on a Long Island beach Sunday morning.
The Atlantic Marine Conservation Society was notified by a Fire Island National Seashore ranger that the deceased 35 to 40 foot humpback whale had stranded at Point o' Woods on Fire Island.
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The whale was in an advanced state of decomposition, the organization said.
The AMCS will take initial measurements and assess the whale, and work with local authorities to determine a necropsy plan, which may take place Monday.
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Suffolk County Marine Patrol officers are onsite to secure the area as people have begun to gather around the whale.
The AMCS advised people to keep a minimum distance of 150 feet away from live and deceased marine mammals at all times as they are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
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