Whale
Photo Credit: NSRI (From Rescue in June 2021, along Yzerfontein)

The SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) volunteers launched from NSRI Gqeberha to rescue a juvenile Humpback whale caught in a fishing line and two floating buoys.

 

Gqeberha, South Africa (12 August 2021) – The SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) answered the call to help a 7-metre juvenile humpback whale entangled in fishing line and flotation buoys. The network operates all along South Africa’s coastlines, to save as many ocean mammals from entanglements as possible. We shared rescue number 208 at the start of June.

The NSRI shared the news of the rescue operation and the update that the whale was in good health. Once untangled, they had to contend with a tanker but a day later, the juvenile humpback had swum off and seems to be safe, wherever it may be.

“At 09h29, Tuesday, 10 August, SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) volunteers launched from NSRI Gqeberha sea rescue base aboard two NSRI Gqeberha sea rescue craft, JLT Rescuer and Spirit of Surfski 4, following eye-witness reports of a whale entangled in fishing rope lines just outside of the Port of Port Elizabeth.

On arrival on the scene, an approximately 7-meter juvenile Humpback whale was found inside of the Port of Port Elizabeth entangled in fishing rope wrapped around the Caudal Peduncle with 2 floatation buoys attached.

The whale, with freedom of movement, was found to be docile.

A working line was established to aid in a disentanglement operation.

The sea rescue craft Spirit of Surfski 4 was manoeuvred closer to the whale, and using specialised cutting equipment one cut was made to a 25mm fishing line wrapped around the whale and following the one cut all fishing line and the floatation buoys fell free from the whale.

The fishing line and floatation buoys were recovered.

The whale was monitored and appeared to be healthy but efforts to corral the whale out of the Ports entrance and back out to sea was not successful causing temporary disruption to shipping traffic.

Later, while still being observed by SAWDN crew and sea rescue crew on the scene for over an hour, sight of the whale was lost and the sea rescue craft returned to base.

A short while later a call was received from Transnet security officers informing that the whale had been spotted in a confined but barely accessible tanker terminal.

SAWDN and NSRI crew, on the sea rescue craft JLT Rescuer, returned to the scene to find the whale almost trapped between a tanker motor vessel and a jetty and efforts to corral the whale away from the area proved impossible.

The tanker motor vessel was due to depart on Wednesday and with the whale appearing to be healthy and not in any immediate danger, with enough space to swim around in, it was agreed to wait until the tanker departed to reassess the situation.

On Wednesday there were no further sightings of the whale and we are confident that the whale swam free from the confined area and has most likely departed back out to sea and we are cautiously optimistic in the success of this operation although Transnet authorities will keep a lookout.”

The SAWDN was established in 2006 to manage entangled whales using specialised equipment. They work with highly trained volunteers from several networks, including:

  • National Sea Rescue Institute,
  • Telkom Maritime Radio Services,
  • KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board,
  • Department of Environmental Affairs,
  • Centre for Sustainable Oceans at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology,
  • Cape Nature,
  • Mammal Research Institute,
  • South African National Parks,
  • South African Police Service,
  • Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries,
  • Bayworld,
  • Various Boat Based Whale Watching and Shark Cage Diving Operators,
  • The Rock Lobster Industry and the Octopus Industry and,
  • Dolphin Action and Protection Group.

Sources: NSRI – Supplied
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About the Author

Tyler Leigh Vivier is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Her passion is to spread good news across South Africa with a big focus on environmental issues, animal welfare and social upliftment. Outside of Good Things Guy, she is an avid reader and lover of tea.

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