Environment
Rescuers free most fishing line from humpback near San Clemente
A trained multi-agency team removed most of the line entangling a young humpback whale about five miles off San Clemente, and a follow-up underwater check described the operation as successful.
The approximately 29-foot humpback was reported by a fisherman on October 18 with roughly 100 feet of trailing fishing line around its tail area, according to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Responders from the Laguna Beach nonprofit, Entangled Whale Response Orange County and SeaWorld San Diego later located the animal near the San Clemente Pier.
Location: About five miles off San Clemente
Animal: Approximately 29-foot subadult humpback whale
Response: Most of the trailing line was removed
Follow-up: Underwater video the next day found a successful disentanglement
Specialized response teams used cameras and cuts
Teams used a permitted drone and underwater cameras to assess several layers of line around the whale’s underside, fluke and peduncle, the muscular area before the tail. Responders cut twisted sections of line, after which the whale made several deep dives and shook free from most of the remaining material, NBC Los Angeles reported.
The marine-mammal center said the whale had a scar on its peduncle but appeared healthy after the response. Large-whale disentanglement is performed by trained, authorized crews because approaching an entangled animal can be dangerous for both people and wildlife.
Original reporting: Read NBC Los Angeles’ report →
Response-team background: Pacific Marine Mammal Center on its disentanglement work →
To report an entangled marine mammal, call NOAA’s West Coast hotline at 1-877-767-9425; do not attempt a rescue yourself.