Expert rescuers managed to free a humpback whale entangled in fishing gear and anchored to the sea bed off Cape Recife in a triumphant four-hour operation, despite the unsettling attention of three other whales and five orcas.
News of the incident emerged on Wednesday, a few hours before a scheduled presentation on whale entanglements to environment minister Dion George and a call for him to prohibit rope-based crayfish and lobster fishing.
George is in Gqeberha for the SANParks Vision 2040 indaba.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the drama started just after 9am on Tuesday, when the institute’s station six crew in Gqeberha was alerted by the SA Whale Disentanglement Network.
He said the network had received a report from the Lusitania fishing vessel Louisa-Claire.
“The NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian and Eddie Beaumont II, accompanied by whale disentanglement-trained NSRI crew, whale disentanglement gear, specialised cutting equipment and extra fuel, were launched.
“Guided by the skipper and crew of the Louisa-Claire, who had remained on the scene for this reason, we found a large humpback whale 15 nautical miles south of Cape Recife, in open water, entangled in fishing rope.
“It was trailing a flotation buoy and appeared to be anchored to the seabed by one of the fishing ropes.”
Lambinon said a seal was also on the scene, as well as another large humpback whale.
“The affected whale was swimming around in wide circles, confirming that it was anchored to the seabed by one of the fishing lines.
“Our craft Eddie Beaumont II moved in for closer inspection and we found wraps of fishing rope around the fluke [the wide flipper part of the tail], more around the caudal peduncle [the trunk below the fluke] — and a bird’s nest of fishing rope bunched on the one side.”
He said the conditions were challenging.
“The difficulties were amplified by an additional two humpback whales that arrived on the scene, most likely concerned for the wellbeing of the entangled whale.
“These three additional whales kept getting in the way of the rescue craft.
“Despite these extreme challenges, we were able to attach grappling hooks to one of the trailing lines, to help us slow the affected whale down a bit.
“But it continued to swim around in circles. And the three other whales continued to get in our way.
“We commend our NSRI coxswain for expertly manoeuvring the rescue craft despite these challenges.”
He said cuts to the entangled fishing rope were initiated but it became obvious quite a few cuts would be necessary.
“While cutting on the fishing rope, at least five orcas then arrived on the scene — we assume to take a look at what was going on.
“By that stage, the seal had left and then the three humpback whales appeared to chase the orcas away.
“Over a four-hour period, in extremely challenging conditions, all rope was cut free and the fishing rope and flotation buoy were recovered for disposal.
“When we finally cut away the last fishing line that was anchored to the seabed, the affected whale and the other whales dived under water and swam off, not be seen again.”
Lambinon commended the skipper and crew of the Louisa-Claire for swiftly raising the alarm and staying on the scene to guide the rescuers to the location.
The Herald
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