Humpback whale trapped in craypot line
Monday, 24 June 2019
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is calling on boaties to help find an entangled humpback whale spotted off the coast of the South Island, but it doesn't want them trying to save it.
The whale, first spotted at Knife and Steel Harbour, between Big River and Waitutu River in Southland, by a fishing vessel, is believed to be tangled in craypot line trailing up to 30 metres behind it.
'People seeing the whale can assist our rescue response by staying with the whale, monitoring it and advising of its exact location for our disentanglement team to get to it,' DOC ranger Mike Morrissey said in a statement.
The department warned against boaties trying to cut off line and floats attached to the whale, as it is 'very dangerous' and could make it more difficult for the whale and the rescue team.
**READ MORE:
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* Humpback whale entangled in ropes in Bay of Islands**
The department warned the whale was on the move and could be travelling up the west or east coast.
The fishing crew who originally spotted the whale managed to attach a second float to the whale, making it more visible in the water.
Morrissey, who leads the South Island large whale disentanglement team, said the whale was not in 'any immediate danger so urgent action isn't required'.
'The priority is people's safety and ensuring disentanglement is carried out safely by our trained team.'
The DOC team specialises in disentangling whales, but only attempts cutting any lines or ropes if conditions permit.
Sea conditions need to be relatively calm and there needs to be sufficient daylight hours as it can take several hours to free the whale.
The disentanglement process is called 'kegging', and involves team members using grapnel hooks to attach rope and floats to the material, which slows down the whale and tires it out.
The removal process begins once the whale is 'sufficiently exhausted' and crew members can cut away the materials.
This is the second whale to be entangled off the South Island's coast.
Earlier this year, a humpback whale trapped in rope was first spotted off the Otago coast and again off Kaikōura a few days later. The team was able to free the whale easily, due to the rope being intact.
'It helped us considerably in removing the rope from that whale that no-one had cut off the rope and float attached to it and we ask that no-one does that with this latest entangled whale,' Morrissey said.