Humpback whale partially freed off California coast; rescue attempt to resume
Posted October 31, 2015 10:39 am.
Last Updated October 31, 2015 10:40 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALIFORNIA (NEWS 1130) – Rescuers who removed 150 feet of rope from a humpback whale that became entangled in fishing gear off the California coast hope to remove the rest in another attempt.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman Jim Milbury said Saturday that about 100 feet of line is still trailing from the animal. The whale became agitated and dove deep after the team cut away part of the line late Friday.
A NOAA team will go out again Saturday if the whale is spotted off the Orange County coast. A whale watching vessel reported the entangled whale Friday morning.
Scientists say the remaining rope is caught in the whale’s mouth, which will make it hard for it to eat. They hope the whale will resurface close enough to shore to try again.
