Humpback Whale Entangled at New South Wales Central Coast Freed After Several Hours

A humpback whale at the New South Wales Central Coast was freed after being entangled for several hours, according to local reports.

The whale at Norah Head was rescued by crews from Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Marine Rescue after it was caught in marine debris consisting of a rope and buoys. The incident occurred shortly after the onset of the whale-watching season in the region this month.

Whale entanglement cases have been reported not only in Australia but also in other parts of the world in recent years. The most common culprit behind these incidents is fishing gear and other equipment used by anglers and other people engaged in marine recreational activities.

Some of these cases lead to beach strandings and the eventual death of the animal caught.

Humpback Whale Entanglement

Rescue crews from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, along with the Marine Rescue, worked together to release the whale from its entanglement at around 4:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 6, The Canberra Times reported. The incident was initially called in at around 12:30 p.m. earlier in the day.

The incident came after a similar case occurred over the weekend where a humpback whale was rescued from a combination of lines and floats in the waters off Five Island near Port Kembla, according to the Australian newspaper.

Fishing Gear Entanglement

The phenomenon of whale entanglement has been confirmed but its full extent is hard to analyze as most cases are never observed real-time. However, research shows that more than 300,000 whales and dolphins die each year due to fishing gear entanglement, with an additional unknown figure also entangled in marine debris, according to the International Whaling Commission.

The whaling commission warns that fishing gear entanglement has ecological repercussions to marine environments, especially to the population of marine animals that are already under threat. For instance, entanglements can easily kill a large sea creature due to lacerations that it can cause to their skin or their capability to prevent them from swimming, making them trapped and leading to eventual starvation.

Large Whale Entanglement

It is evident that large whales are more susceptible to fishing gear entanglement mainly due to their size. With this, operational-level measures and conservation efforts are underway to protect giant marine mammals.

In the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA Fisheries) oversees and carries out conservation efforts under the Marine Mammal Protect Act, notably in the country's West Coast.

Aside from fishing gear, the NOAA Fisheries asserts large whales are "periodically" becoming victims of other ropes, lines, and chains found in the marine environment. Although some whales can break free from their entanglement, others may be so unlucky and carry the debris for days, months, or even years, the U.S. government agency adds.