Members of the South African Whale Disentanglement Network in Port Elizabeth were activated on Monday following reports of a large female humpback whale, accompanied by her calf, entangled in fishing rope and two flotation buoys.
Spokesperson Ian Gray said they were spotted off-shore of Seaview and heading towards St Francis Bay.
He said two NSRI rescue craft and SAWDN volunteers hurried to the scene.
"On arrival, we found the whale to be moving swiftly at about 5 knots and entangled in the fishing rope around her body and trailing two flotation buoys," he said.
Gray said the SAWDN volunteers cut one rope free and then pulled on the rope that remained entangled around the body of the whale.
"That rope came free and all the rope and the flotation buoys were recovered. The whale and her newborn calf have continued on their way following the successful operation," he said.
He said while departing the scene the whale was seen to be breaching the water which was captured on an onboard monitor.
(Pics: Raggy Charters)
