NEAH BAY – A dead humpback whale was discovered floating off shore east of Sekiu Thursday morning.
The Makah Tribal Marine Mammal Biologist called it in to the Stranding Network, a group that responds to stranded whales whether they’re dead or alive. Michael Milstein with NOAA Fisheries picks up the story from there:

Last night, the whale was towed into Neah Bay by the Makah Tribe, since it was found within what is considered to be their accustomed fishing area. Tribal Chairman Nathan Tyler told us that since it was deemed a fresh kill, the whale’s carcass was harvested for subsistence purposes. His raw account of last night’s ceremony makes it clear just how much the whale means to them.