Humpback Whale Rescued from 300 Pound Crab Pot in Alaska

A young humpback whale was rescued in Alaska after being found ensnared by a 300lb crab pot. The incredible rescue mission, which took place on October 11, 2023, highlighted the dedication of residents, researchers, and wildlife experts to save the creature from a life-threatening entanglement.

Source: The Independent/YouTube

The rescue efforts began when two observant residents spotted the distressed whale a day prior in the coastal waters near Gustavus, a picturesque city near Glacier Bay National Park in the southernmost part of Alaska. Their report to the visitor information center at Glacier Bay National Park set in motion a remarkable chain of events. Researchers estimate that the humpback whale in question was about three to four years old.

According to the National Park Service, the residents reported that the whale appeared to be “trailing two buoys, making unusual sounds and having trouble moving freely.” The NPS immediately launched a response to assess the situation. Janet Neilson, an NPS whale biologist involved in the rescue, mentioned that the park personnel were able to confirm the entanglement from shore and obtained critical photos of the animal and the gear, providing vital insights into the extent of the crisis.

As the rescue team, which included NPS patrol teams and experts from the Large Whale Entanglement Response Network, reached the scene, it became evident that the whale’s entanglement was life-threatening. The team observed the whale swimming in a tight clockwise circle, at times appearing to be anchored to the seafloor by the weight of the 300lb crab pot, along with 450ft of heavy-duty line.

Further investigation revealed that the owner of the gear had set the crab pot near Pleasant Island, southeast of Gustavus. However, the pot had gone missing between Saturday and Sunday morning, indicating that the whale had been trapped for at least three days before the residents reported the entanglement. The urgent need for rescue became even more apparent.

The rescue team employed various techniques to assess the entanglement. A key asset was the use of drones, which provided critical aerial photographs and videos of the whale’s predicament. Fred Sharpe, an advanced large whale entanglement responder with the Alaska Whale Foundation, noted that this was a complex entanglement with a line through the whale’s mouth and wrapped around its tail stock. The drone imagery proved invaluable in understanding the entanglement and planning the cutting attempts.

The rescue operation was no easy feat. It involved carefully cutting the entangling rope, all while ensuring the safety of the responders and the whale. Specially designed tools were employed, such as a knife attached to a 25ft carbon fiber pole and grappling hooks with razor-sharp blades. The turning point in the rescue came when the responders successfully cut the rope that ran through the whale’s mouth and was wrapped around their tail. After hours of dedicated work, the rescue team managed to finally free the humpback whale.

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