A dead whale spotted floating near the Encinitas coastline early Monday was towed out to sea by lifeguards — and followed by a shark — prompting lifeguards to post warning signs at nearby beaches.
Signs noting the sighting were posted at Swami’s and Cardiff State beaches, as well as Solana Beach, although officials did not think they’d have to close the water to swimmers or surfers since the shark moved far offshore.
Officials had been notified around 7:15 a.m. that the whale was floating about 400 yards off lifeguard Tower 16 at the San Elijo campground, located at Cardiff State Beach, said Encinitas spokesperson Alex Saint.
A dead whale was towed away from the Encinitas shoreline by lifeguards on Monday. (Anthony Garcia)
“It is somewhat decomposed, and a shark had been feeding on it,” said Michael Milstein, a spokesperson with NOAA Fisheries. He said the whale was male, around 30 feet long and possibly was a fin whale, although scientists won’t know for sure until tissue samples they collected are analyzed.
He said researchers had hoped to attach a tracking buoy to the whale to monitor its location but weather conditions did not allow it.
Three lifeguards from Encinitas and Solana Beach on personal watercraft initially pulled the whale away from the beach. It was then hooked up to a boat from state lifeguards and towed out about 20 nautical miles, Saint said.
Lifeguards said they did not see any markings that indicated the whale had been hit by a ship.
Fin whales are considered endangered, although they have become more common in the waters off California as they have rebounded from the commercial whaling era, Milstein said.
City officials on shore watched footage from a lifeguard’s drone of the whale’s removal and spotted the shark, estimated to be around 15 feet long, swimming behind.
Signs warning of the shark sighting have been posted on nearby beaches and will remain up for at least 24 hours.