Humpback Whale Rescue Off Cape Cod

CHATHAM, MA — A young humpback whale was recently cut free off the Cape Cod coast after it became hooked on fishing gear, authorities said. The rescue happened Friday near Chatham.

Recreational boaters came across the young male whale and called the Coast Guard for help. A team from the Center for Coastal Studies was dispatched to the scene.

"There they found a relatively small whale anchored in fishing gear, with line through its mouth, attached to heavy gear on the sea floor," the center said in a statement. "The whale was able to raise some of the gear to make it to the surface to breath. After a full assessment the team used a ... pole and hook-shaped knife to make a single cut to a portion of the rope entering the mouth."

The whale was able to pull the fishing gear off and fled at a "high rate of speed — generally considered a good sign," the center said. "Many thanks go to the mariners off Chatham and to the (Coast Guard) for their help in this case.

Boaters are urged to report marine life entanglements to the Marine Animal Entanglement Response hotline (1-800-900-3622) or Coast Guard. The center said it has has freed more than 200 whales and other marine animals from entanglements. It said because of the endangered status of many of these creatures, freeing just one can have a “profound” effect on the entire population.

Photo credit: Center for Coastal Studies