(Vancouver) Fisheries and Oceans Canada says it has successfully disentangled a humpback whale entangled in fishing gear off the coast of British Columbia, first spotted by a ferry passenger.
Paul Cottrell, the department’s marine mammal coordinator, said a rescue team found the whale off Texada Island after a ferry passenger reported the animal Thursday. He said the team was able to free the whale from “recreational fishing gear” that was stuck in its mouth.
Mr Cottrell said the whale, named Smoke, was dragging more than 50 metres of wire and equipment, while moving quickly despite the entanglement. It took several hours to locate and free the animal.
He said a team from conservation group Straitwatch was in the area when the report was made and attached a satellite tag and buoy to equipment being towed by the whale, which helped rescuers find the animal and begin rescue efforts.
The coordinator said the whale was agitated and uncomfortable during the operation, and was still very “mobile” before losing strength as it moved north through the Strait of Georgia in the evening.
He says there have been more such incidents in recent years because of the increase in the number of humpback whales in B.C. waters.
“We’ve been out on the water several times this year for entangled animals,” Cottrell said. “The most important thing is to locate them and that’s where, again, the eyes and ears of the public are important to us.”