A screen grab from a Center for Coastal Studies video of a whale disentangled from fishing gear Tuesday off Truro. Video taken under NOAA permit #18786
TRURO – The Center for Coastal Studies Marine Animal Entanglement Response Team freed a humpback whale Tuesday off Ballston Beach in Truro.
The team and researches were conducting a research survey when they came across the whale anchored in fishing gear about two miles offshore.
Crews received permission from NOAA to disentangle the mammal which had two tight wraps of rope around the base of its tail and was connected to fishing gear on the seafloor.
The team used a hook-shaped knife on a thirty foot long pole to cut through the wraps of rope around the tail.
The whale swam off as soon as it was released.
Crews determined from the injuries that the whale was recently entangled and appeared to be in good condition and is expected to recover.
Boaters are urged to report any entanglement sightings of whales, sea-turtles or sharks to the MAER team (1-800-900-3622) or the US Coast Guard on VHF 16, and to stand by the animal at a safe distance until trained responders arrive.
All disentanglement activities are conducted under a federal permit authorized by NOAA.
A video of the humpback caught in the gear can be viewed below.
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
