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Rescuers work to free humpback whale from fishing line off California Rescuers work to free humpback whale from fishing line off California
(2 days later)
Marine experts were on Saturday trying to save a humpback whale that was struggling off the coast of California, with a length of commercial fishing line tangled in its mouth.Marine experts were on Saturday trying to save a humpback whale that was struggling off the coast of California, with a length of commercial fishing line tangled in its mouth.
Rescuers were following the whale, trying to figure out if they could free it from the potentially deadly hazard. The adult humpback was off the coast of Laguna Beach, south of Los Angeles.Rescuers were following the whale, trying to figure out if they could free it from the potentially deadly hazard. The adult humpback was off the coast of Laguna Beach, south of Los Angeles.
It was first spotted on Friday morning off Newport Beach, a few miles north, showing distress and swimming near the surface. A whale-watching boat noticed that the whale was trailing a length of the kind of line which is used to connect surface buoys to seabed lobster pots.It was first spotted on Friday morning off Newport Beach, a few miles north, showing distress and swimming near the surface. A whale-watching boat noticed that the whale was trailing a length of the kind of line which is used to connect surface buoys to seabed lobster pots.
The Orange County sheriff harbor patrol and whale disentanglement experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were called out and spent hours on Friday tracking the whale and attempting to free it. But the distressed whale kept diving out of sight or trying to leap, despite showing increasing fatigue, according to local TV reports. The Orange County sheriff harbor patrol and whale disentanglement experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) were called out and spent hours on Friday tracking the whale and attempting to free it. But the distressed whale kept diving out of sight or trying to leap, despite showing increasing fatigue, according to local TV reports.
Teams managed to cut away about 150ft of rope. On Saturday, the experts were back in pursuit in inflatable boats, trying to use underwater cameras to figure out exactly how badly the whale’s mouth was entwined.Teams managed to cut away about 150ft of rope. On Saturday, the experts were back in pursuit in inflatable boats, trying to use underwater cameras to figure out exactly how badly the whale’s mouth was entwined.
“The rope is pretty embedded in the corners of the mouth and coming under the pectoral fin,” NOAA whale rescue expert Justin Viezbicke told the Guardian on Saturday. “Then one line goes over the tail, one comes under the tail and it’s in a big knot about 15ft behind the whale so that it’s difficult for it to move its tail. It’s pretty bad.” “The rope is pretty embedded in the corners of the mouth and coming under the pectoral fin,” Noaa whale rescue expert Justin Viezbicke said on Saturday. “Then one line goes over the tail, one comes under the tail and it’s in a big knot about 15ft behind the whale so that it’s difficult for it to move its tail. It’s pretty bad.”
Whale rescue experts on the east coast sometimes use sedative darts to slow a whale and help disentangle it in similar scenarios, Viezbicke said. That policy has not been used on the west coast, though it is currently under consideration.Whale rescue experts on the east coast sometimes use sedative darts to slow a whale and help disentangle it in similar scenarios, Viezbicke said. That policy has not been used on the west coast, though it is currently under consideration.
“It’s very dangerous for the people and for the whale, but it’s something we are considering for the future,” he said.“It’s very dangerous for the people and for the whale, but it’s something we are considering for the future,” he said.
An 80ft blue whale became tangled in line in the same area in September. Rescuers battled for several days to free it before it swam into Mexican waters. It was spotted there still snarled up in 400ft of line and with a red buoy attached, with experts fearing it would weaken and die under the stress.An 80ft blue whale became tangled in line in the same area in September. Rescuers battled for several days to free it before it swam into Mexican waters. It was spotted there still snarled up in 400ft of line and with a red buoy attached, with experts fearing it would weaken and die under the stress.
Earlier in October, rescuers tried to save a fin whale that became tightly trussed up in line off Laguna Beach. Witnesses said the mammal appeared very thin, possibly due to being unable to eat properly and becoming exhausted from trying to free itself. Rescuers were unable to assist and the whale’s fate remains unknown.Earlier in October, rescuers tried to save a fin whale that became tightly trussed up in line off Laguna Beach. Witnesses said the mammal appeared very thin, possibly due to being unable to eat properly and becoming exhausted from trying to free itself. Rescuers were unable to assist and the whale’s fate remains unknown.
In the latest incident, teams trying to free the humpback said they were unlikely to be able to get the rope from its mouth, hoping instead that if they could cut enough away from elsewhere, the animal would be able to shake the rest free itself.In the latest incident, teams trying to free the humpback said they were unlikely to be able to get the rope from its mouth, hoping instead that if they could cut enough away from elsewhere, the animal would be able to shake the rest free itself.
“The reality is if it can’t do that and it can’t forage for food that’s going to be the end-case scenario for this whale and there will be a fatality, unfortunately,” said Viezbicke.“The reality is if it can’t do that and it can’t forage for food that’s going to be the end-case scenario for this whale and there will be a fatality, unfortunately,” said Viezbicke.
NOAA agents unofficially estimate that more whales are becoming tangled in fishing line than usual this year. Unseasonably warm waters appear to have brought more whales closer to the southern California coast, and there has been an increase in commercial fishing. Noaa agents unofficially estimate that more whales are becoming tangled in fishing line than usual this year. Unseasonably warm waters appear to have brought more whales closer to the southern California coast, and there has been an increase in commercial fishing.
The region is bracing for the El Niño cyclical weather pattern, which has been warming vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean in recent months and thus strengthened the power of hurricane Patricia last weekend.The region is bracing for the El Niño cyclical weather pattern, which has been warming vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean in recent months and thus strengthened the power of hurricane Patricia last weekend.