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Researchers disentangle 30-foot humpback on Stellwagen Bank |
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A humpback whale is swimming free today, 10-22-09, because researchers from
Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies disentangled the animal while
on a research cruise in the southern part of Stellwagen Bank.
The 30-foot animal was sighted Wednesday when researchers on board the R/V Ibis noticed a moving fishing buoy nearby; soon after, the whale surfaced with 80 feet of line trailing from its mouth. “We always keep a grapple ready at the bow for just such occasions,” said Scott Landry, director of MAER for PCCS. Rescuers acted quickly, throwing a grapple which caught the entangling line. A large buoy was also released by rescuers in an attempt to keep the animal at the surface. The whale dove for a few minutes and the large buoy popped up with all of the entangling gear in tow. Researchers continued to follow the whale for over an hour; documenting its condition. The team noted evidence of bloody wounds caused by the entanglement, but now gear free; the whale has a better chance of survival. |
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MELISSA WOOD, NATIONAL FISHERMEN: Meting out the meager
May 22, 2012 - Listening to the New England Council's Groundfish Advisory Panel talk about how that industry is going to pay for monitoring costs is kind of like trying to figure out how to pay your bills when you've just lost your job. Though monitoring is important keeping costs down is critical. As Panel Member Gary Libby pointed out, "If we had 100 percent monitoring we probably wouldn't have an industry."
