Humpback whale disentangled at Kowie River Mouth

A nine-metre humpback whale was successfully detangled at Kowie River Mouth, Port Alfred the South African Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) said in a statement.

Entangled humpback whale first reported on Sunday

National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Graig Lambinon, said reports from a container ship on Sunday indicated that a whale had been spotted entangled in fishing rope lines and flotation buoys in the vicinity off-shore of Port Alfred on the East Coast.

Upon arrival at the scene, SAWDN and NSRI Port Alfred commenced a search but no sign of the whale could be located and the search operation was suspended.

SAWDN was later alerted by fishermen at sea who spotted the entangled whale near Kowie River Mouth at Port Alfred.

Lambinon said the alarm was raised and NSRI Port Alfred volunteers aboard the 2 NSRI Port Alfred sea rescue craft responded to the location.

“SWADN members in Port Elizabeth and in Cape Town communicated advice to the Port Alfred team during the operation and monitored the operation,” he explained.

“While the SAWDN cutting equipment and gear, in Port Elizabeth, was being arranged to be transported to Port Alfred, the SAWDN and NSRI Port Alfred members, in Port Alfred, fearing that the whale may move away from where it had been spotted, rigged makeshift disentanglement cutting equipment and makeshift disentanglement gear that was used in this disentanglement operation.”

Weak but recovering

The humpback was found with fishing rope entangled through and around its mouth attached to fishing gear, crayfish traps, and flotation buoys.

Lambinon said the operation was sensitive and lasted two hours after which the team gently cut free all entangled fishing rope and gear.

“While the whale appeared to be weak and tired, it does appear to be healthy and, following this ordeal, SAWDN are confident that, after this successful disentanglement operation, the whale will survive and gradually regain strength and health.”

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Lindiz van Zilla

Wales having a tough time in South Africa

The incident comes just over a month after Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Barbara Creecy announced she was temporarily suspending exploratory octopus fishing with immediate effect after several whales died getting tangled in nets.

The exploratory fishing for octopus was established in 2014 in False Bay, Saldanha Bay, and Mossel Bay towards developing economic hubs and creating jobs in coastal areas.

“Our decision is taken following widespread public concern regarding recent whale entanglements in the False Bay area which has resulted in the untimely and cruel death of these magnificent creatures,” Creecy said in a statement.

– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Devereaux Morkel