Whale entangled in crab trap lines off Monterey coast freed after 6 months
(KRON) — A humpback whale that was first observed half a year ago off the Monterey coast to be entangled in lines from a Dungeness crab trap was freed by a team of experts earlier this month, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries announced Monday.
The entangled humpback whale was first sighted by Monterey Bay whale watching boats in October 2024, according to NOAA. Researchers identified the whale as 'Check' by using photo records. Check is 'part of the endangered humpback whale population that migrates between Central America and the West Coast,' NOAA said.
Trained responders from the Large Whale Entanglement Response Network were unable to locate the whale following the initial sightings.
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Months later, on March 22, 2025, Check was again spotted off the Monterey coast by whale watching vessels. At that time, responders noted that the whale had become entangled in lines from two additional crab traps.
When a team was sent out to free the humpback days later, 'fog and as many as five other whales travelling very closely and energetically with Check made it unsafe to continue to approach the whale,' NOAA said.
Finally, on the morning April 5, a 'weather window opened,' officials said. A rescue team consisting of The Marine Mammal Center, Marine Life Studies and Cascadia Research Collective found Check near the coast of Pacific Grove.
'They attached some large buoys to slow the whale and keep the entangled ropes near the surface,' said NOAA. 'One team grabbed the entangling line so the whale towed them as they made a carefully orchestrated series of cuts of the ropes.'
After the lines were cut and Check was freed, it immediately swam off with another whale, according to Cascadia Research Collective's Doug Sandilands.
'This was an unusually long entanglement, and while we are hopeful it will survive, it will be important to continue documenting Check to see that it makes a full recovery,' Sandilands said.
Entangled marine mammals can be reported to NOAA's Entanglement Reporting Hotline at 1-877-767-9425. Injured, stranded or dead marine mammals can be reported to NOAA's West Coast Stranding Hotline at 1-866-767-6114.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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