A juvenile to sub-adult whale was successfully freed off the coast near Moeraki, New Zealand, thanks to a collaborative effort. The Department of Conservation's (DOC) whale disentanglement team, a local fishing crew, and mana whenua worked together to save the whale.
The whale, estimated to be up to 9 meters long, was entangled in a 12mm braided cray-pot line with a single float. The DOC team made the decision to work with a local fishing crew already on-site, which proved crucial to the rescue.
DOC coastal Otago operations manager Gabe Davies expressed gratitude for the local crew's skilled handling of the situation. He highlighted the importance of strong local relationships and a shared goal in ensuring the whale's safe release.
Dr. Cat Peters, DOC disentanglement team leader, explained that entanglements are more frequent during whale migration. She emphasized the importance of saving entangled whales, stating that "Every whale counts."
The team responds to up to 20 entanglements a year. DOC is also aware of another possible entangled whale sighting off the coast of the Chrystalls Beach-Bull Creek area. The public is advised to stay clear of entangled whales and report any sightings.