Gray Whale Entangled Off CA Coast Inspires Mass Response: Video

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A gray whale in distress was sighted off the Orange County coast on Monday first by a Laguna Beach paddle boarder, then local whale watching vessels and the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Newport Coastal Adventures crew responded to the scene and found the marine mammal in the waters near the Wedge in Newport Beach. They stayed with it for two hours until the NOAA disentanglement crews arrived. The Orange County Sheriff's Department was also on scene during the disentanglement efforts.

"We encountered a Gray Whale off Newport Beach which was severely entangled by a gillnet, a type of commercial fishing gear," Captain Ryan, a spokesperson for Newport Coastal Adventures said over Facebook. "The drone footage we captured was able to help in assessing the appropriate response by the NOAA disentanglement team, and one of our boats "babysat" the whale until help could arrive."

This image of the whale's fluke wrapped in tangling lines was shared across social media.

"We salute the skill and dedication of the NOAA disentanglement team who risked their safety to work on freeing this whale today," continued Ryan.

The video of the tangled whale was shared over social media and gleaned national attention by mid-week.

"We want this video to bring awareness to the damage that gillnets can cause to non-target species. A gillnet is termed as an 'indiscriminate' commercial fishing method, meaning there is a high rate of by-catch and damage caused to animals not being targeted. It has no place in today's oceans and most applications should be banned," NBCA said.

Local vessels take the disentanglement of marine wildlife seriously.

"Disentanglement of whales may only be performed by a federally permitted team. It's extremely dangerous to approach an entangled whale as they may often be dragging lines and net far behind the animal," they said. "This whale had 150 feet of line trailing behind it. If you see a tangled whale call the Coast Guard or NOAA hotline; do not attempt it yourself."

According to a report from the Orange County Register, in 2016, 71 whales were caught up off the West Coast after being tangled in lobster and crab trapping lines as well as other fishing lines. Of those entanglements, 66 were seen off the California coast, including 13 in Southern California. The West Coast figure is the highest since NOAA fisheries started keeping records in 1982, and up from 62 in 2015.

Report entangled marine mammals by calling 877-SOS-WHALE (877-767-9425), or vessels can hail the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Ch. 16.

Newport Beach Coastal Adventures, Captain Ryan Drone Photo, used with permission.