Dead whale found on Fourchon beach

The Louisiana governor's top coastal adviser says a dead whale has been reported washed ashore on Fourchon beach.

Garrett Graves said Friday the state was sending workers to examine the whale, which washed up southwest of New Orleans.

The size and species of the whale was not yet known. Graves said the whale was found in an area where tar balls and mats of weathered oil have been washing ashore from waters churned by Hurricane Isaac, resulting in the closure of a small portion of coastal waters to commercial fishing.

He said tissue samples were to be taken from the whale to determine whether there was any connection to the oil.