Humpback Whale Freed After Complex 4-Hour Disentanglement Operation

Kevin Warren, NSRI Gqeberha coxswain, said: At 09h06, Tuesday, 2 September, NSRI Gqeberha were alerted by SAWDN operations to prepare SAWDN (South African Whale Disentanglement Network) trained NSRI SAWDN crew and to prepare the SAWDN specialised gear and cutting equipment for a whale disentanglement operation.

SAWDN had received reports from the Lusitania fishing vessel Louisa-Claire of a Humpback whale appearing to be entangled in fishing rope South of Cape Recife in open water deep offshore.

Our NSRI Gqeberha duty crew, and NSRI trained SAWDN volunteers, responded to our NSRI Gqeberha station 6 rescue base.

The NSRI rescue craft Bay Guardian and Eddie Beaumont II, accompanied by SAWDN trained NSRI crew, the SAWDN gear and specialised cutting equipment, and extra fuel, were launched.

The fishing vessel Louisa-Claire had remained on the scene to guide our NSRI rescue craft to the location.

Guided to the scene by the skipper and crew of the Louisa-Claire, on arrival on the scene, 15 nautical miles South of Cape Recife, in open water, we found a large Humpback whale entangled in fishing rope trailing a floatation buoy and appearing to be anchored to the seabed by one of the fishing ropes.

A seal was also found to be on the scene swimming around - and what appeared to be the casualty whales mate, another large Humpback whale, was close by on the scene.

The affected whale had space for movement and was swimming around in wide circles - confirming that the whale was anchored to the seabed by one of the fishing lines.

Our NSRI rescue craft Eddie Beaumont II moved in for closer inspection finding wraps of fishing rope around the fluke and wraps of fishing rope around the caudal peduncle - with a birds nest of fishing rope gathered on the one side.

The operation commenced in challenging and difficult conditions amplified by an additional 2 Humpback whales that arrived on the scene - most likely concerned for the wellbeing of the entangled whale ... the 3 additional whales kept getting in the way of the NSRI rescue craft.

Despite these extreme challenges we were able to attach grappling hooks to one of the trailing lines - with rope attached that were carrying larger floatation buoys - this to aid us in slowing the affected whale down a bit - but the whale continued to swim around in circles.
And the 3 additional whales continued to get in our way - but we commend our NSRI coxswain for expertly manoeuvring the rescue craft despite these challenges.

Cuts to the entangled fishing rope were initiated but it became obvious quite a few cuts would be necessary.

Faced by the challenges during the operation we lost 2 cutting poles and we lost one of the specialised cutting knives.

While cutting on the fishing rope at least 5 Orcas then arrived on the scene - we assume they had come to take a look what was going on.
By that stage the seal had left and the 3 Humpback whales - that had remained on the scene - appeared to chase the Orcas away. The Orcas were not seen again.

Over a 4 hour period, in extreme 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 remaining whales dived under water and swam off not be seen again.

We remained onsite for about half an hour but the whales were gone.

During the operation the affected whale had at all times appeared healthy and strong and we are confident of the success of this SAWDN disentanglement operation.

We commend the skipper and crew of the Lusitania fishing vessel Louisa-Claire for swiftly raising the alarm and for staying on the scene to guide us to the location - they played a vital role that contributed to the whale being saved.

Our NSRI rescue craft returned to our NSRI rescue base at 17h43.