A whale that washed ashore alive in Santa Cruz on Thursday has died, the city said.

Marine mammal agencies responded after the whale was discovered at Cowell Beach. According to the city, the fin whale died after experts determined it was severely emaciated and showed signs of long-term illness.

The UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Laboratory Stranding Network, with support from The Marine Mammal Center, has been managing the response alongside city of Santa Cruz marine safety personnel.

“Responding agencies are now working with the City and Santa Cruz Fire Department to determine the safest approach for removing the whale, while protecting public safety, surrounding infrastructure, and opportunities for scientific research,” the city said.

The immediate area surrounding the whale has been closed off and the city is asking people to avoid the area.

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.