NOAA Fisheries News Alert
NEWS ALERT
July 27, 2009
Sheela McLean, Public Affairs
(907) 586-7032
Entangled whale shakes gear
A whale spotted entangled in Taiya Inlet, south of Skagway, has shaken off the fishing gear that encumbered it.
The entangled humpback was first sighted Tuesday wrapped in some small gauge line and trailing a red polyball.
"The folks who reported this entanglement were extremely helpful. They provided an excellent first assessment and documentation of the entanglement, and were willing to stay with the animal," said whale disentanglement expert Ed Lyman of NOAA Fisheries Service in Juneau. "The success of our response efforts depends on someone staying by the entangled animal. Once an animal is lost it is very difficult to find them again – whales are essentially very big needles in an even bigger haystack."
The entanglement report came in late in the day and the ocean was rough. Information indicated the entanglement was new, which meant that the animal might be stressed and dangerous to work around. It also meant that, given some time, the whale might shake the gear off on its own, if it was not heavily entangled. In the interest of both safety and practicality, responders decided to stand down.
On Wednesday morning (July 21) a U.S. Coast Guard HC60 helicopter searched for the whale. The Coast Guard spotted three unencumbered whales close to where the entangled whale had been spotted and several polyballs matching the description of what the whale had been caught in, but did not re-locate the entangled animal. A private plane also searched the area and spotted a buoy matching the description of the gear on the whale.
The gear was retrieved a day later when the seas calmed. It was positively identified as the gear seen on the whale. Over 240 feet of line, along with the buoys, were recovered.
"This is an example of a time when it was wise to watch and wait," said Lyman. "Disentangling a whale is dangerous and can be time-consuming. Sometimes they can free themselves."
NOAA experts are also keeping an eye out for a small humpback calf, which has been seen carrying fishing gear in the greater Auke Bay area. The calf is entangled in pieces of gillnet over the left side of its head, to its left flipper and draped over its back. There is no gear trailing, the mouth is not constrained, and the calf’s movement does not appear to be impeded.
The entangled young humpback was first reported by Dolphin Jet Boat Tours and later re-located by Orca Enterprises. Another tour vessel, Weather Permitting, assisted until the response team, made up of personnel from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement, arrived on scene.
The team assessed the gear and the whale’s situation as not likely life threatening. It is believed that the calf has shed some gear already and is likely to continue to shake off gear until it is completely free.
"The assistance from private citizens, the tour industry, US Coast Guard and others with reporting, documenting, standing by and helping with response efforts is instrumental in helping NOAA Fisheries protect these animals", said Lyman. "Protecting and saving these whales is a community effort."
Whale disentanglement is dangerous work for the whale and the rescuers, Lyman explained. Cutting whales free should be left to those with have experience, training and the authorization to do so. Anyone who sights an entangled whale is asked to call the hotline at 800-853-1964.
NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources. Visit www.noaa.gov. To learn more about NOAA Fisheries in Alaska, visit alaskafisheries.noaa.gov or: www.afsc.noaa.gov.