Officials say that a 54-foot male fin whale that washed up on the Jersey Shore likely died after being hit by a ship.

The carcass washed ashore Sunday in Barnegat Light.

An examination revealed a large impact on its right side, likely caused by a ship, according to Marine Mammal Stranding Center director Bob Schoelkopf. He said there also were several large bite wounds likely caused by sharks who fed on the whale’s body after it was wounded.

Schoelkopf says that he believes the whale was struck several days ago.

Town officials buried the whale on the beach where it washed ashore near 19th and 20th avenues on the end of Long Beach Island.