The grim reality of a horrific end for this 7.5m juvenile female Minke Whale that was washed up at Spurn. @strandings_man kindly let me attend yesterday and taught me so much as i would love to head into this line of work.
(small thread below, without the extra gruesome photos)

Sadly, her tail had been entangled in some discarded fishing rope causing some rather horrendous incisions into the flukes. Almost certainly caused the death as these injuries would have affected her ability to swim and feed.

The large Goose Barnacles attached to the rope could suggest that they have been there quite a while. (whether they be on the rope before or attached once around the whale) Once attached, they cannot move, so end up traveling wherever their 'host' goes.

I'm reluctant to share even more vivid photos than i already have (especially of the dissection process) on such a public space. However, i thought that this would be okay/enough. Samples of fluke lesions were taken, as well as liver, kidney, ovaries and spleen, etc.

Although the 'main' stomach (1 of 3) didn't contain any plastic or debris, it was empty with no sign of recent feeding, another issue was it contained a large amount of ingested sea water and some sand which could sadly suggest a live stranding.

Mysticetes (Baleen whales) lack teeth, instead have baleen plates (Keratin) which is used as a filter-feeding system. The whale takes in water then pushes it out through the comb like plates so that leaves behind small animals such as krill and small fish as the food source.

Throat grooves (ventral pleats) are folds of skin and blubber that expand during feeding and fold back to create a streamlined shape.
The expansion allows the whale to expand to engulf a larger volume of water and food.
Minke whales have approximately 50-70 of these grooves.

A heartbreaking circumstance that awfully happens too much due to man made threats. I feel very privileged to have been involved and learn much more about my favorite animals. I will hopefully one day soon be able to work closer towards my goal in helping and studying cetaceans.