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PROVINCETWON CENTER FOR COASTAL STUDIES
www.coastalstudies.org
Introduction
Since 1984, the Center for Coastal Studies has freed more than seventy
large whales from life threatening entanglements, using techniques
developed by Center staff. The Center is the only organization on the east
coast of the United States federally authorized, by National Marine
Fisheries Service, to disentangle large, free swimming whales, such as the
humpback and the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale*. Over
the years PCCS has also disentangled other marine animals, like dolphins
and porpoises, seals and sea turtles. If you want to help support these
endeavors, please consider becoming a member.
The principle disentanglement technique, a modification of an old whaling
practice called kegging, involves attaching large floats, or kegs, to the gear
entangling the animal. The floats add buoyancy and drag to the animal,
making it difficult for it to dive, eventually tiring it out. The desired result
is a relatively immobile animal that is more safe to cut free. The kegging
system is designed for easy release should the rescue attempt fail.
Because of the endangered status of many of these animals, especially the
northern right whale, where approximately 300 animals are believed to
exist, the successful release of just one animal may have a profound effect
on the recovery of the population as a whole. Over fifty-percent of known
right whale mortalities have been attributed to either entanglements or ship
strikes. While rescue techniques may help with species recovery, PCCS
recognizes that the best solution is a preventative one. PCCS has
consistently contributed research and knowledge to the effort of
understanding and reducing the rate of entanglement of large whales.
Starting in 1994, a Disentanglement Network was established in the U.S.
and Canada to increase the scope of response to entangled marine animals.
Coordinated by the Center and authorized and partially funded by the
National Marine Fisheries Service in U.S. waters, the network is comprised
of first response personnel that have extensive field experience with whales
and small boat handling skills. Network members may assess, monitor,
document and, in some cases, disentangle an animal. However, in situations
where the animal is a candidate for rescue (dependent upon weather,
resources, or complexity of the entanglement), the first responders may
attach a satellite/VHF tag beacon to the entangled gear. The animal may
then be tracked and rescued when conditions are more favorable.
In 1996, the Center was called upon to rescue a northern right whale
entangled off the coast of Florida. This incident highlighted the need to
expand the rescue program to include the entire east coast and offshore
waters to a distance of one hundred nautical miles. Collaborating with the
US Coast Guard and a number of other agencies, a "Rapid Response
Program" was developed for the disentanglement of large, endangered
whales normally not accessible to the Center's efforts or outside the
capability of network first responder teams. Using the resources of the
network to outfit the rescue team and the resources of the Coast Guard to
transport the Center's primary rescue team quickly to the rescue site, we
hope to increase our success in disentangling these critically endangered
animals.
* The Center for Coastal Studies is federally-authorized to perform large
whale disentanglement under the authority of Scientific Research and
Enhancement Permit Number 932-1489-04/PRT009526, issued by the
National Marine Fisheries Service and United States Fish and Wildlife
Service under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the
Endangered Species Act.
The narrative accounts and images depicted at this site are intended for
educational purposes only. Mariners are urged to report sightings of
entangled whales to the Coast Guard immediately and stand by the animal
at a safe and legal distance. Attempts to disentangle any marine mammal
without proper training and authority may be subject to prosecution and
may result in injury to both
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
This page attempts to address some of the most commonly asked questions regarding whale entanglements
and the techniques and complications associated with a disentanglement.
Will disentanglement save the whales?
During a disentanglement attempt, there is no more pressing issue in front of a team than whether they can
save this one whale and, if so, how they might do it. Disentanglement cases often involve dozens of experts
working around the clock creating strategies, techniques, equipment and logistics for the next attempt.
However, it is critical to understand that each entangled whale that is found embodies simply the most visible
symptom of a much larger problem that plagues the remaining population of right whales and many other
species -- entanglements in fishing gear. An entangled whale is not an isolated event. The vast majority, at
least 72 percent, of the right whales in the small surviving population in the North Atlantic have encountered
entangling ropes in the ocean, as determined through photographic studies of their scars.
This number, which includes animals seen actually carrying gear, suggests a sharp increase in entanglements
within this population during the past decade, notwithstanding the efforts of government and industry to
reduce the rate of entanglement.
Research shows that the North Atlantic right whale's slow recovery from the days of whaling has reversed and
this species, once again, is decreasing in numbers. This time, however, it is at least partly due to the
unintended consequences of increasing human industry in the oceans, including entanglements and ship
strikes. The number of whales that sustain serious injury or death from these encounters may never be known,
simply because they are most likely to die far from public view and cannot be counted; however, many more
will die than can be rescued.
Without significant, rapid improvement in our commercial fishing technology and practices, entanglements
will simply continue to a degree that the right whale population cannot withstand. Reversing this outcome is
the responsibility of concerned citizens; one that we share with our elected representatives, regulators and
with the fishing industry itself.
Why not get in the water and cut the whale free?
Swimming after a whale entangled in fishing gear is impractical and dangerous. Like most wild animals,
whales do not seem to enjoy being approached closely by people. When feeling threatened, their options
include swimming away quickly, diving or even breaching for protection (when in the water near a whale
even the most innocent twitch of its massive body could easily injure or kill a rescuer). Many large whales
cruise at about 4-10 miles an hour. Our best Olympiad swimmers can sprint up to 5 mph for short periods.
One of the most dangerous aspects of diving anywhere near an entangled whale is the gear itself. Line and net
has an incredible propensity for entangling anything that touches it. Humans are not nearly as efficient at
diving and swimming as whales. Becoming entangled in the fishing gear attached to a whale would be
disastrous, especially if the whale chose to dive. Other practical problems include the water temperature and
the water clarity of many of their favorite habitats.
Cutting something must be better than nothing?
This is one of the most dangerous misconceptions facing an entangled whale. There is a distinct difference
between cutting a whale free and disentangling the whale. People have reported cutting line from anchored
whales, then watching them swim away. This very innocent and well-intentioned act may do more harm than
good. By cutting the lines that anchor a whale or cutting only the lines that are most visible or accessible, a
person may be releasing an animal with the most lethal part of the entanglement still present. Days or months
later, the PCCS whale rescue team may get a report of such an animal and will face the challenges of trying to
subdue and disentangle a free-swimming animal with very little gear to hold on to for traditional rescue
techniques. After being freed from anchor, the lines left on the animal may hinder movement, feeding, cause
severe infection through abrasion and/or become embedded within the animal.
What is a life-threatenning entanglement?
For some populations of whales, entanglement is not uncommon. Many whales may blunder into gear and
become temporarily entangled only to free themselves later. So not all entanglements are life-threatening.
Long-term entanglements, entanglements that a whale is not likely to shed on its own, are candidates for
disentanglement. Such entanglements often involve wraps of rope or net around at least one body part, such as
a flipper, fluke or jaw. Judging the potential lethality of an entanglement is difficult and is aided by high
quaity documentation.
Why haven't you gone out yet to save that whale? or What's taking so long, isn't the whale about to die?
If a whale is able to make it to the surface to breath, it is likely going to live over the short-term. Also, we
often receive reports of entangled whales late in the day, in severe weather or without a vessel standing by,
making a response unlikely. Many whale species may spend part of their year fasting, and can survive for
some time without feeding. In some cases, whales may be assessed with a non-lethal entanglement and will
likely shed the gear on their own. PCCS and network members will only intervene with whales that have a
life-threatenning entanglement. To monitor entangled animals, PCCS depends upon documented,
opportunistic sightings from fishermen, whale watch vessels, dedicated flights or research cruises.
If a whale is deemed to have a serious entanglement, one of the first steps taken during a rescue is to attach a
VHF/satellite buoy to the gear entangling the animal. If the whale is lost, the weather turns bad or more
resources are needed, the animal may then be tracked for more rescue attempts. Our research indicates that
this buoy creates no further harm to the animal and may actually pull the gear free with the added drag.
Without the option of tagging it could be many months before resighting the whale (or never).
Whales that do not die outright through drowning while anchored in gear may face equally devastating results
once they pull "free" of the gear. Any non-biodegradable rope left on the body that the whale is unable to shed
may cause decreased mobility and/or infection.
Do the whales know that you are trying to help them out?
So far, we have little information that would show such a phenomenon. Certainly, they are aware of the
presence of a rescue team but just what they think of this is far from clear. As with any wild animals, whales
may be very dangerous when afraid. While working close with a whale, rescue teams make every effort to
keep themselves safe. Whales may react with fight or flight responses on a scale measured in tons. Whales
may use their heads, flukes or flippers to defend themselves or may simply turn calm after a lengthy battle. In
either case, whales are treated with a respect of their sheer power, as any wild animal should be.
Why is documentation such a big priority?
Without documentation, little can be learned about entanglements and how to prevent them. By understanding
how, where, when and who gets entangled, we may be able to make better decisions regarding the ultimate
solution to the problem: prevention. By documenting each entanglement fully, for example, we have found
that many whales become entangled while feeding and are more likely to become entangled in any gear
floating or suspended in the water column (as opposed to lying flat on the sea floor). Documentation also
shows if the disentanglement has been successful or not and creates an understanding of the healing process.
Considering that 10-20% of the humpback and right whale populations may become entangled each year, the
work of the rescue team becomes daunting. Even more alarming, PCCS and New England Aquarium research
on scars attributable to entanglements has shown that only 3% of these entangled whales are ever reported.
Why is standing by a whale so important?
Nine times out of ten, if a boat does not stay with an entangled whale it will not be found by rescuers in the
same day. Considering the vastness of the ocean and the mobility of a whale, it is no easy task to find a
specific whale. Without standing by rescuers may have to wait until the the whale is found again, by chance.
Because of this, standing by is considered the single most important step in disentangling a whale.
Standing by a whale is not necessarily easy. Depending upon the species and its behavior at the moment,
whales may stay on a dive from 2-30 minutes (or much more) at a time, covering prodigious distances. If a
whale is in an aggregation, following that particular whale can be challenging. Identifying the whale as an
individual, using scars or the shape of the dorsal fin is helpful in this instance (entangling lines may not be
easy to see or even invisible from above the waterline). Through educational campaigns boaters are
encouraged to wait by the entangled whale from a safe distance and call the U.S. Coast Guard immediately.
The Coast Guard will notify the disentanglement network and may request that the reporting vessel contact
other vessels nearby to make a relay where a new vessel takes on a bout of standing by while the previous
vessel retires.
What is a success? Why do we sometimes leave gear on a whale?
Removing any life-threatenning gear from a whale is the main objective of any disentanglement operation.
Add to that full documentation of the entanglement and safety (for people and whales).
This does not necessarily mean that every inch of line will be removed from a whale. Research has shown that
a large number of whales become entangled every year but many shed the gear on their own (it is impossible
to say how many entanglements end in fatality). During some rescue operations, some gear may be left on the
whale with the understanding that the whale will likely shed that gear on its own. Line may be left in the
mouth with the ends shortenned, likely to be cast off naturally at the next bout of feeding. If line is embedded
within the whale, the line may be shortened, allowing the wound to reject the foreign body at its own pace.
How do we know that whales are becoming entangled at such high rates?
By documenting each entanglement, researchers have been able to monitor evidence of previous
entanglements on different populations of whales. Many entanglements invariably involve the tail stock of
whales (where the flukes meet the body), leaving scars that may persist for years. By photographing tail stocks
of humpback whales within the Gulf of Maine, for example, a rate of entanglement can be measured and
compared between years. This may be the only way to measure the success or failure of management
initiatives geared towards reducing and eliminating entanglements.
This view shows the best angle for monitoring entanglement scars on the tailstock
Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies
115 Bradford Street
P.O. Box 1036
Provincetown, Massachusetts 02657
508-487-3622 Fax: 508-487-4495
© 2005 Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies