Severely entangled humpback whale rescued off Haida Gwaii, B.C.
Video shows Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) staff leading the rescue of a severely entangled humpback whale off the coast of British Columbia last week.
Pacific Marine Mammal Response coordinator Paul Cottrell says the DFO received a tip from the public about an injured humpback whale off Haida Gwaii on May 30.
DFO staff were already in the area and were able to put a satellite tag on the animal so that incoming rescue crews could track the whale.
"I ended up getting up there and the next morning we went out with Parks Canada as well," said Cottrell. "We had the safety boats with Parks Canada and the DFO vessel."
When the rescue teams caught up with the humpback, Cottrell says it was "heartbreaking" to see how the whale was entangled.
Fishing gear had wrapped around its mouth and tail, with the entangled ropes pulled taut around it.
"So this animal, it was in a crescent shape," said Cottrell.
"It couldn't swim straight because of the gear configuration," he said.
HOURS-LONG RESCUE
The DFO rescue crews started by removing the gear from the whale's mouth.
"Unfortunately, once we had released that tension, we thought the animal would straighten out," he said.
"But he was still in a bit of a crescent shape."
The crews then went to work on the rope tangled around the whale's tail.
They found that when they removed some of the rope that was deeply ensnared, it ended up injuring the whale as well.
"So we decided to leave the rope that was deeply embedded and cut some of the adjacent rope around it," said Cottrell.
"The animal swam off and it did straighten out a little bit but it still had that crescent shape," he said.
The DFO estimates that the whale had been entangled for a long time, considering how deeply the rope was embedded in the humpback's tail, and because of the amount of algae that had built up on the gear.
"So we're going to monitor and assess that animal over time to make sure it's going to make it," said Cottrell.
"We gave it the best chance we could, it was a great effort by everyone."
INCREASED HUMPBACK PRESENCE IN B.C.
Earlier this year, DFO crews managed to rescue a similarly entangled humpback whale near Port Hardy, B.C.
Cottrell says the Pacific Marine Mammal Response team has received four reports of entangled humpback whales so far this year, but were only able to locate and rescue these two.
He says it's "good news" that more and more humpback whales are returning to B.C. waters, but their increased numbers also means a greater chance of encountering fishing gear or boats.
"It's so important for the public, if you see an entangled whale that's distressed or in trouble, please call our 1-800 number, 1-800-465-4336," he said.
"It improves our chances of rescuing these whales if we get there quickly."
Cottrell says there's more and more research being done into improving the safety of the fishing industry worldwide, but that it's going to take some time for any of those innovations to become a reality.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.