Update: Governor Stepping in to Help Save Whale Stranded in Moriches Bay

Update 7:40 p.m.: New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo is coming to the rescue of a humpback whale stranded in Moriches Bay.

In a statement, Cuomo said: “New York State is providing full authorization and cooperation to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help save the humpback whale in Moriches Bay. I have directed the Department of Environmental Conservation to make available all state equipment and resources, and coordinate with NOAA on a plan to ensure the well-being of the stranded whale.”

Dani Lever, Cuomo's press secretary, also Tweeted this statement: "Governor Cuomo understands that NOAA has jurisdiction over the stranded whale as it is a federally protected species. However, the Governor urges NOAA to do everything possible to save the whale and New York State will provide any resources necessary. As a fisherman and boater, the Governor knows the Moriches Inlet and believes it may be possible to get the whale to deeper water. He will provide any equipment necessary from the Department of Environmental Conservation to effectuate the move. NOAA has a veterinarian coming tomorrow morning to examine the whale. The‎ Governor understands that any chance of survival should justify the maximum effort and he is committed to providing it."

Original story: Hope is fading for a humpback whale stranded on a sandbar in Moriches Bay, experts said Tuesday. But residents and elected officials are rallying to save the whale before it's too late.

According to Chuck Bowman, president of the board of directors of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation, the whale was still there Tuesday as the tide began to rise.

"It's not really moving much anymore," he said. "This isn't a good thing."

The whale, which weighs approximately 20 tons, is in very shallow water, Bowman said. "All of its weight is laying on its vital organs. It's a sad situation."

But despite a flood of offers to help from boaters and concerned residents, Bowman said there's no way to move the whale without putting human life in danger, even if individuals have the necessary equipment to do so.

"One flip of its tail and you'd be a goner," he said.

When asked if euthanasia is an option being considered, Bowman said anything the Riverhead Foundation does must first be approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries division; NOAA, he said, is sending a team that should arrive Tuesday night or Wednesday to assess the situation and make a decision.

But watching the whale, he said, is "very frustrating for some people. The water is very shallow. The whale shouldn't even be in the bay to begin with."

The whale, Bowman said, was first spotted in Moriches Bay a week ago, when the super moon and high winds out of the southeast brought high tides. The whale, he said, followed bait fish into Moriches Bay to feed and was unable to find his way out.

Although at first it was thought that he'd possibly be able to swim out to safety, the whale was stranded on the sandbar, he said. West winds over the past three days have "peeled" the water out of the bay, making the situation worse, Bowman said.

Humpback whales are not uncommon out in the ocean in the area, Bowman said, and that's the one positive takeaway from the whale's sad story.

"That's the one good part of it," he said. "Twenty-five years ago you were lucky to see one whale in the ocean a year. With conservation efforts now, there are a lot of them."

But the sad fact remains that there is little to be done to help the whale find a happy ending. "It's a lose, lose," he said.

Meanwhile, New York State Sen. Ken LaValle, released a statement on his Facebook page about the whale: "My office has received numerous calls inquiring about the whale that is stuck on a sandbar in Moriches Bay. It's my understanding that the NYS DEC has signed a waiver to authorize the use of a local dredge to attempt to remove sand around the whale in order to free it. The Riverhead Foundation is the lead organization on the process. The whale is a federally protected species, so it's imperative that this effort is handled correctly. Let's hope the whale can be freed quickly."

And some residents aren't ready to give up. According to Derek Wells, who runs the "Locals Only" Facebook page with his partner, Jeremey Bennet, concerned individuals are still trying to help. A live feed on that page shows the efforts underway.

" It's our Bay, we grew up in these waters all our lives, have been watching the whales feeding on the bunker all spring and every fall, and for something like this to happen and have to cut through all this red tape to save an innocent creature like this is unreal," Wells said. "It has been on the sandbar since Sunday and the feds and foundations have done nothing. It was time to take matters into the locals hands. There are many other people who are doing way more than I am, including Jeremy Bennet and Vinny Conwell, and the East Moriches Fire Chief Lenny Kalmar who helped organize everyone at King Kullen this morning."

The 25-foot whale, although seen in Moriches Bay for a week, became stranded over the weekend, and despite the hope that high tide might help to move the whale, so far, he's stayed put, and with each day that passes, fears have continued to mount for the whale's survival.

According to a Facebook post by the Riverhead Foundation, the whale that has been observed in Moriches Bay over the past week is currently grounded in the middle of the bay, near Hart’s Cove.

The Riverhead Foundation is continuing to monitor the whale's behavior and condition, the post said. On Sunday, Riverhead Foundation biologists went out on boats with the help of Southampton Town bay constables and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to monitor the whale; efforts to create wave actions to help move the whale off the sand bar were unsuccessful, the Riverhead Foundation said.

"An attempt to get on the water closer to the animal’s location to observe its condition this morning was unsuccessful due to the extremely low tide and high winds," the post said Monday. "From land, it does appear that the animal’s orientation has shifted to the east, based on yesterday’s observations. We are considering the whale’s welfare, and are disappointed in the recent turn of events."

The Riverhead Foundation said it will continue to consult with NOAA Fisheries and whale experts on the best course of action and will keep the whale's best interests at the "forefront of discussions."

Humpback whales were also seen frolicking in the Long Island Sound in 2015.

Photo courtesy of Michael Busch.