On April 8, a gray whale was reported trapped in a gillnet near Palos Verdes Peninsula, struggling to surface at a depth of 100 feet. NOAA Fisheries conducted a successful two-hour rescue mission that involved cutting the net to free the whale. The rescue highlighted the critical issue of entanglement, which is a major threat to gray whales as it can lead to severe distress and feeding difficulties. The whale swam away quickly after being freed, thanks to the specialized tools used by rescuers.
"It wasn't going anywhere because of the way the net was caught," said Justin Viezbicke, California stranding coordinator for NOAA Fisheries and the leader of the mission. "Without our response, the chances of this whale surviving were very low."
Rescuers utilized specialized tools to cut the gear entangling the grey whale, which allowed it to "rapidly" swim away as soon as it was freed from the net.
Entanglement is one of the top threats for gray whales, as they often get trapped entirely or drag gear for miles, causing significant distress.
The adult gray whale was found anchored in place on the sea floor, 100 feet down off the Palos Verdes Peninsula, after being reported by whale watchers.
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