Dramatic Whale Rescue Off Marblehead: ICYMI

Marblehead, MA — A 60-foot fin whale tangled in fishing gear was cut free by rescuers in Stellwagen Bank Wednesday.

The rescue team from the nonprofit Center for Coastal Studies used a grappling hook to free the whale, which is an endangered species.

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A pilot searching for tuna saw the whale, which weighs about 50 tons, with a large loop of fishing line and several buoys tangled around its mouth and reported it. The rescue team arrived in a boat and tossed a grappling hook to cut the line from the whale's mouth.

"The team managed to remove most of the entanglement, leaving just a short length of rope through the mouth that should be shed naturally over time," the center said in a statement.

The rescue was captured on video:

The fin whale is the second largest mammal in the world. Its population has dwindled down to fewer than 100,000, according to the World Wildlife Organization.

Stellwagen Bank is about 30 miles east of Marblehead.
Boaters are urged to report marine life entanglements to the Marine Animal Entanglement Response hotline (1-800-900-3622) or Coast Guard.

The Center for Coastal Studies 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.