NEW YORK: The Coast Guard says it's received reports of a whale near the Statue of Liberty.

Petty Officer Frank Iannazzo-Simmons says the whale was spotted around 8 amThursday near Liberty Island in New York Harbor.

The Coast Guard put out an advisory telling mariners to watch out and avoid contact with the whale.

Boats of all sizes frequent the area, including Staten Island ferries and cargo vessels.

It wasn't clear what type of whale it was.