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A team of marine mammals led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration saved the life of a humpback whale last week after she enmeshed in a fishing line in Unalaska Bay, near Dutch Harbor.
NOAA officials said they first received a report on the whale's situation on October 15. By the time the workers communicated it to him, the line was tightly wrapped in his mouth and in his ventilation holes. His tail was also heavy, the agency said, probably by a big pot of cod. A marathon rescue mission then followed.
"This hump was hogtied – the moat was pulled under the body and connected to the head by a thick line – and anchored in a pot at the bottom of the ocean, which virtually immobilized it, a like a dog on a leash, "said John Moran, a humpback whale biologist with NOAA Fisheries, based in Juneau, and a trainer trained as part of the Great Whale Response Network for whales.
Moran flew Friday to Dutch Harbor to lead the effort on the water to free the whale.
"The intervention team – which included two ships and reconnaissance devices using underwater cameras and an aerial drone – spent 12 hours over two days on the water making many attempts. to cut the lines that connect the whale, "he said.
On October 17, 2018, NOAA's John Moran cuts a line tangling a humpback whale in the Bay of Unaska. (Andy Dietrick / NOAA)
The rescue team was able to first clear the scab of the head, which allowed the whale to swim, but there was still about 200 feet of line around. Fortunately, officials said the situation had swum to shallower waters, facilitating relief efforts.
Finally, after hours of effort, the team won.
"Suddenly, there was a click and the gear floated upward," said Moran. "Apparently, it took about an hour for a grapple hook that cut the grapple, we then saw the whale swim freely and we knew it was free of any entanglement."
On October 15, the biologist from the US Army Corps of Engineers noticed the whale's dilemma. He reported this situation to the Alaska SeaLife Center. At that time, the whale was seen near Needle Rock.
The next day he was found, and this time he seemed to be in a life-threatening situation. A team began to mobilize, including a port vessel with a certified drone operator.
Once the whale has been able to swim freely, it seems to be in good condition. Biologists have stated that he was "very likely to survive this ordeal".
"Once the material was removed, it took off and swam freely and breathed normally," added Moran. "The day was long, but all the members of the intervention team were extremely determined to get there, and the team work was fantastic."
NOAA Fisheries worked with the following partners on this response: Sea Grant Sea Grant Program, Fairbanks University Bristol Bay Campus of the University of Alaska, City of Unalaska , USACE, NOAA Law Enforcement Police Office, Aleutian Branch, Resolve Magone Marine Services, Alaska SeaLife Center, and NOAA National Maritime Shrines Office.
NOAA reminds mariners to report marine mammals in distress to the 24-hour Alaska Marine Mammal Stranding Assistance Line on NOAA vessels at 877-925-7773.
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