Public urged to maintain a safe distance from Fin whale stranded on Torrance Beach

Authorities are urging the public to maintain a safe distance from a 35- to 40-foot fin whale that washed up on Torrance Beach on Saturday evening and subsequently passed away.

“Due to its size and location, it is anticipated that the whale will remain on the beach while responders develop a plan for its removal,” stated the Los Angeles County Lifeguards group in a message on social media. “If you are in the vicinity, please give the animal and responders ample space to work.”

Lifeguards stumbled upon the whale around 6 p.m. on Saturday, positioned between Redondo Beach and Malaga Cove. Following an assessment by the Marine Mammal Center and National Fisheries Service, it was confirmed that the whale had died.

While the exact cause of death has not yet been determined, fin whales are known to be particularly susceptible to ship collisions, as noted by marine mammal experts. The warming of ocean waters is also disrupting their food sources, and entanglement with commercial fishing lines poses another significant threat to these majestic creatures.

Fin whales rank as the second largest animals on Earth after the blue whale. Like their larger counterparts, fin whales are baleen whales, characterized by two blowholes and rows of baleen plates made of keratin instead of teeth. These plates, arranged in a row, serve to filter food from water, with their diet primarily consisting of small fish and plankton.