The SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) were activated on Tuesday following reports from a skipper on a fishing boat of two whales entangled in fishing lines, ropes and buoys in the vicinity of Dassen Island.
SAWDN volunteers launched aboard the NSRI Yzerfontein sea rescue craft Rotary Onwards and Spirit of Iffley and on arrival on the scene found an 11 meter Humpback Whale swimming freely, 2 nautical miles South of Dassen Island, with one rope and one buoy entangled around it's tail.
The whale, in good health, moved swiftly through the water diving regularly making efforts for the SAWDN team to cut at the rope difficult.
A kegging buoy was secured to the rope including an additional line of rope running to the rescue craft, used in an attempt to slow the whale down.
The whale did not tire out as expected and a decision was taken to get as close to the whale as possible and cut the line using specialised equipment.
The SAWDN managed to cut a large portion of rope but despite their best efforts a small rope remained attached to the whale.
The mammal had complete freedom of movement and swam off confidently, appearing to be healthy.
Upon their return to Dassen Island they found a second whale trapped to the ocean floor by a line of rope running to an anchored lobster trap.
Spokesperson for the NSRI Craig Lambinon says the 8 meter Humpback Whale had rope through its mouth running to its tail and a kegging buoy was attached to the tail section of the rope, which lay deep under water.
The specialised cutting equipment was used to first cut the tail line free, which released the whale from the entrapment. The remainder of the rope was cut free completely freeing the whale of all rope and buoys.
The SAWDN escorted the whale through the lobster trap lines out into open water and it swam off confidently also appearing to be healthy.
Earlier a third entangled whale had been reported to SAWDN and a loose buoy which was found floating out on the ocean in the vicinity, but not attached to any whale, is suspected to have come from that whale.
Although the third whale could not be found it is suspected that this whale may have freed itself.
They will continue to monitor the situation.
Issued by NSRI
