Rescuers Save Whale Badly Entangled in Fishing Gear Off Martha's Vineyard

Rescuers this weekend freed a minke whale badly entangled in fishing gear off Cape Cod.

The team from the Center for Coastal Studies said the rescue happened Sunday about 40 miles southwest of Martha’s Vineyard after a passing mariner reported the entangled whale.

The 15-foot whale had a rope wrapped around its jaw; the team said the creature could only move in small circles and was afraid of its boat. Rescuers, however, got close enough and were able to slice the rope, freeing the whale.

The team said the whale was hurt but should recover.

“We are very thankful that the mariner reported the whale,” team member Bob Lynch said in a statement. “Had we not received notification as quickly as we did, the outcome would have been very different.”

Boaters are urged to report whale or other sea life entanglements to the Marine Animal Entanglement Response hotline (1-800-900-3622) or US 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—especially the right whale—freeing just one can have a “profound” effect on the entire population.

Top photo: Rescuers free an entangled minke whale off Martha’s Vineyard Sunday. (Credit: Center for Coastal Studies)