54 Humpback Whales Were Killed in Fishing Nets Last Year – Take Action to Protect Them!

Humpback whales, or more commonly known as humpbacks, are large marine mammals that measure between 39-52 feet long and weigh about 79,000 pounds. Despite their massive size, however, they cannot compete with the tools of man, and their lives are at risk.

Once almost pushed to extinction by whale hunters, humpbacks began to make a comeback since the latter half of the 20th-Century thanks to protection laws. However, their lives are still being threatened by humans.

A petition on Care2 states that 54 humpback whales were entangled in fishing nets last year, and a third of these were crab fishing lines off the coast of California. Once entangled, the whales can suffer from dehydration, starvation, infections, and respiratory issues.

Humpbacks are migratory animals who travel around 16,000 miles each year and are found in both warm and cold waters, depending on the phase of their migratory season. As a truly fascinating species, humpbacks have been monitored and studied in-depth by marine biologists, notably in California’s Monterey Bay and Channel Islands. As the petition explains, because the feeding and breeding areas and migratory routes of whales are well-known amongst biologists and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), there ought to be regulations on fishing during whale “high season.”

If you agree that fishing should be prohibited in areas when whales are present, please take a moment to sign this petition to protect our humpback whales. And please share this with your network to help gain more awareness and Support for the cause!

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons