A marine researcher says there needs to be more research to find out what causes entanglements
After one humpback whale was freed from a polysteel rope off the coast of Haida Gwaii in the northwest of the province, marine researchers are warning the public to keep an eye out for humpback whales caught in fishing gear.
It has also led to calls for a proper assessment of what is causing whales to get caught in B.C., with one researcher saying the problem could be widespread.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans says that the public called for help with the humpback whale on May 25.
Paul Cottrell, who is in charge of the department’s marine mammal response, said that the whale was in a “really, really awful” situation and probably would have died if it hadn’t been saved.
He told CBC News, “It was hog-tied, which means the rope went through the mouth, back to the tail fluke and tailstock, and then tight around.”
“This is one of the worst, if not the worst, injuries and disfigurements I’ve seen on an animal.”
Watch DFO rescuers help a whale that got caught in a polysteel rope:
Cottrell says that it’s likely the whale had been wrapped up in the rope for a long time and that the wraps around the tailstock were an inch deep into the whale’s flesh. Because of this, it likely hadn’t been able to eat for a while.
After a long time trying to help, during which the whale towed the rescue boat, the marine rescuer says they were able to cut the polysteel rope without hurting the whale’s baleen, which is the area around its mouth.
“We were able to get all of the gear off, except for those tight tail wraps,” he said. “Trying to cut those out would have hurt the animal too much.”
Cottrell said that the whale has a fighting chance of living now that it has been saved.
“Seeing that animal swim away is the best feeling in the world, and we’re all hoping for the best,” he said. “We’ll keep an eye on this animal, and hopefully we’ll see it next year and the year after that.”
A researcher wants more schooling
Jackie Hildering, who is in charge of education and communications for the Marine Education and Rescue Society, said that preliminary research had shown that over half of the humpback whales with scars in British Columbia had survived being caught in fishing gear. She says that more research is needed to find out what kind of fishing gear is causing the tangles.
“This needs to be stopped right where it starts. “You’ll never find all the whales caught in the nets,” she said. “They’ll barely avoid being found on our coast.”
In B.C., humpback whales were considered “threatened” until 2014, when efforts to bring back their numbers were successful.
People still think about the North Pacific population. “of special concern” under the federal Species at Risk Act, because their numbers are recovering but not yet stable.
“Unlike orcas, humpbacks don’t live in groups, so you don’t know if one dies of anything,” Hildering said. “Unlike toothed whales, humpbacks don’t have biosonar.
“They come back to this coast when they’re hungry, and they’re less aware of their surroundings when they’re eating.”
The researcher says that because whales are getting caught more often, boaters need to be on the lookout and call the DFO if they see one.
She also told boaters not to try to help themselves, saying that it isIt is against the law to get close to humpback whales.And entanglement rescues are dangerous even for professionals.
“The best thing to do is to report it right away and then take photos from a distance to show who it is,” she said.
If you see a whale that is stuck, you can call the B.C. Marine Mammal Hotline, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-465-4336.