Maine Whale Program Supports U.S. Fisheries' Suspension of Untangling Whales

Whales are the largest animals in the world.

With few natural enemies, one of the largest dangers to whales is getting tangled in fishing gear.

Evan Henerberry, Assistant Stranding Coordinator for the Allied Whale program says, "There's no such thing as a common disentanglement, but a lot of times you see them around the fins and around the tale stock right near the edge."

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with assistance from other agencies, takes part in rescuing marine mammals here in the U-S, including untangling whales.

Henerberry says, "These are large animals who are under stress. This is not a situation they would find themselves in naturally."

The College of the Atlantic's Allied Whale program is authorized by NOAA to respond to marine mammal emergencies off Maine's coast.

But as of Thursday morning, NOAA's fisheries regulator has suspended efforts to free tangled whales after a Canadian rescuer was killed by a whale this week.

Henerberry says, "It is probably the most dangerous job in marine mammal science."

Joe Howlett died Monday off the coast of New Brunswick - a close friend saying the 59-year-old veteran fisherman was hit by the whale just after it was cut free and started swimming away.

Henerberry says, "A lot of times you're going to be responding in a small maneuverable boat. So, this is an animal that outweighs you, the boat you're traveling in, and your entire crew."

A common occurrence, whale untangling efforts can take hours, even days to complete.

Henerberry says, "The first step is you really want to slow down the animal. So you're going to attach a grapple only to the gear. The next step, it takes a long time to get there. You're looking at multiple hours just getting the animal to slow down and getting into a position where you can finally make the cut. This is the pole -- these are extremely sharp. The goal is to make as few cuts as possible and let the gear kind of float off the animal."

He says he thinks the decision to suspend these efforts is wise.

Henerberry says, "If there is a way that we can prevent this kind of tragedy or a way that NOAA can prevent this tragedy in the future, that is theirs and our first priority to protect the folks involved."

Many marine scientists dedicate their lives to saving these animals and don't mind the risk.

Henerberry says, "These guys are heroes who go out and do this everyday."

To report a marine mammal stranding or entanglement you can call 288-5644 or 266-1326.