Giant sea creature found on beach is fin whale – researchers

(MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

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THE remains of a giant sea creature found on the Welsh coast were those of a “very large” fin whale, researchers have confirmed.

Second only in size to the blue whale, it was only the fourth confirmed report of a fin whale washing up in Wales this century.

It was the first beaching since a young fin whale died two days after stranding in the Dee Estuary, Flint-shire, in June 2020. This was a 41ft (12.5m) calf - much smaller than the most recent discovery on Cefn Sidan sands in Pembrey, Carmarthenshire.

Initial assessments indicate a female and suggest her size was almost 70ft (21m). Staff from ocean watchdog Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM) were astounded by her size when they visited the beach the day after the discovery on Wednesday morning.