Fin Whale Carcass Documented in Northern Sinai, Study Recommends Enhanced Monitoring

A fin whale carcass stranded on Egypt's northern Sinai coast in February 2021 has been documented in a recent study, which identified the species and called for improved marine mammal monitoring.

• On 9 February 2021, the carcass of a fin whale stranded on the Mediterranean coast in northern Sinai, Egypt, and was documented in a study published in Cetacean Research and Management.
• Researchers identified the whale as a fin whale based on external anatomical characteristics and estimated its length at 16–20 meters; no necropsy was performed.
• Dr. Bassem Rabie, lead researcher, said the fin whale is classified as endangered globally and that the Mediterranean population faces heightened threats from human activities.
• The study's authors recommended establishing a national continuous marine mammal monitoring program involving standardized protocols, surveys, and reporting by fishers.