The whale, which is too large to be moved to a location where a necropsy could be performed to determine its cause of death, had its jaw excised by NOAA's Office of Law Enforcement on Wednesday.
This was done to prevent thieves from stealing the animal's teeth, according to the Nantucket Current.
"It is illegal to possess or sell most marine mammal parts, the reason being to protect wildlife from trafficking and poaching," officials said in the release.
Town manager Libby Gibson said at a select board meeting Wednesday there is no set date when the whale will be removed.
"It is gonna hopefully happen soon, before Thanksgiving," Gibson said. "Plans are underway."
The whale has been anchored to shore and biologists from the International Fund for Animal Welfare are set to arrive on the island to perform an "on-site examination," officials said.
"The goal is to learn as much as possible about this individual and hopefully find some evidence of cause of death of this magnificent animal," officials said.
Officials said the whale washed up on a popular swimming beach and allowing it to decompose "would cause serious hazard to beach goers, swimmers, and vessels."