Whale freed from ropes and fishing gear by Cape Town rescue team

A Southern Right whale has been freed from entanglement in fishing ropes, gear and buoys off Sea Point on Friday afternoon, thanks to a coordinated effort between the SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) and the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).

Francois Stapelberg of African Eagle Marine Eco Tours reported the entangled whale to SAWDN on Friday afternoon. Stapelberg pinpointed the location of the whale 1.5 nautical miles off-shore of the Sea Point Pavilion and rescuers were soon on their way to free the whale.

The whale has been in distress for some time and was spotted in Table Bay, Clifton and up the West Coast but moved on before rescuers could arrive to cut it free of the flotsam and jetsam.

A press release from SAWDN detailed the lead up to the rescue: “A sea rescue craft conducting sea trials in the area diverted to investigate and it was confirmed to be an entangled 10 meter juvenile Southern Right whale and SAWDN were activated and the NSRI were requested to assist with sea rescue craft.

“Francois had first alerted SAWDN to the same whale in February but despite an extensive search by SAWDN and NSRI no sign of the whale could be found.

“On 3 further occasions in February and in March sightings of the same whale had been reported in Table Bay, Clifton and up the West Coast but every time SAWDN and NSRI responded all attempts to locate the whale were unsuccessful.

“On 2 occasions a Girocopter was volunteered by Jean Tresfon to try to locate the whale but on both occasions no sign of the whale could be located.

“Today, after finding the whale, Francois had taken his tourists back to the harbour before returning to seek out the whale and he was able to locate the whale a second time today.

“We also requested assistance from the Cape Town Boating Network and they had a member, who is also an NSRI spotter, locate the whale using a telescope from a residence high up of Sea Point, and a member who was launching his boat to go on a pleasure cruise had offered to assist in locating the whale.”

The NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue craft was dispatched to aid the whale who had a heavy clump of fishing gear wrapped around its tail in 6 entanglements keeping it below the surface and making it hard to find.

Once found the rescue itself posed more than a few challenges to the six volunteers who set out on the Kommetjie.

SAWDN’s Mike Meyer said: “During the operation the whale dived several times and that the proximity of the other two whales caused confusion about which whale they were working with at times, adding to the challenge.

“In an operation lasting about 20 minutes we were able to cut free all entangled lines and all of the ropes and gear and buoys were recovered for disposal.

“The disentangled whale, and its 2 companions, have gone on their way and we are confident of the affected whales survival following this ordeal and we are truly delighted with the successful operation.”

SAWDN commended Francois Stapelberg for his involvement in locating the whale alongside all the volunteers involved rescue and concerned citizens who reported sightings of the whale.