Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) spent four days freeing the humpback whale, which had become tangled in fishing gear, ropes and buoys, in what DFO marine mammal coordinator Paul Cottrell said was “one of the longest rescues we’ve ever done.” The rescue took place between Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii on the north coast of British Columbia. The whale had apparently been entangled in fishing gear for months, and ropes had wrapped around its head, blocking its mouth. “We didn’t know where to start,” Cottrell said. The rescue team cut 50 ropes and other items from the whale’s body to remove them.
The whale had not eaten anything for a long time and was in such a bad condition that it had difficulty surfacing to breathe, but after being rescued, it seemed to have regained its strength. However, because it had many injuries on its body, DFO said it would continue to monitor its condition.
Cottrell said there has been an increase in whales getting entangled in fishing gear off the coast of British Columbia, which he believes may be linked to the influx of whales into the area. Whale conservation groups have called on DFO to provide training and equipment so that outside groups can carry out rescue operations.