How often do whales get caught in fishing gear?

The number is growing, but you can help.

Reports of entangled humpback and gray whales on the West Coast have increased from an average of 10 reports per year from 1982 to 2013 to 50 reports per year from 2014 to 2017. (1) In the Pacific Northwest, the highest percentage of reports are received in May, with steady reports until September. 

A new report released by NOAA Fisheries credits the recent spike in reports to a variety of factors. Not only have there been increases in the population of humpback whales in particular, but changing ocean conditions have shifted where their prey concentrates, and may bring them more frequently into areas with concentrations of fishing gear. On the bright side, part of the increase in reports is due to greater public awareness of the problem and how to report sightings of entangled whales (see our tips below). 

This past August, SR3 and our network partners responded to an entangled humpback whale off the tip of the Olympic Peninsula (pictured above). The team, led by SR3 and Cascadia Research, arrived on scene to find the whale wrapped up so that swimming was impossible. Together we were able to free the whale within hours. Other entangled whales who go unseen or unreported may suffer for up to two years before they die from the entanglement. (2) 

Whales can be caught in any type of rope or line in the water column, but active fishing gear is what most commonly entangles whales. (3) Although abandoned, lost, or derelict fishing gear can entangle whales, these account for a very small percentage of large whale entanglements. (1,4,5)  

Along the West Coast, there is a network of organizations authorized by NOAA Fisheries that is working to solve the problem – not only by disentangling these whales but collecting information during the response, including:

• The whale’s individual ID, injuries, and overall health

• The kind of gear and how it is entangling the whale

It is through this kind of documentation that we will be able to understand when, where, and how the whale became entangled, whether the whale survives, and the impact to populations of whales. This information is critical to our work with fishermen and government agencies to prevent entanglements in the future, including through new state laws like this, which will reduce the potential for humpback whale entanglements on Washington's coast.

Each year, well-meaning mariners attempt to disentangle whales on their own. This is not only extremely dangerous for the untrained and unauthorized would-be rescuers, but inevitably life-threatening gear is left on the whale, and none of the documentation that we collect to prevent the problem is collected.

How you can help:

1. LOOK for entangled whales (whales swimming oddly, gear trailing behind the whale, whales covered in lice, or very skinny whales)

2. REPORT the entanglement immediately (Don’t wait to get back to the dock!)

   -Call the NOAA Fisheries entanglement reporting hotline at 1-877-767-9425 (1-877-SOS-WHALe)

   -Call the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Ch 16

3. STAY with the whale. An entangled whale is rarely found again if someone doesn’t stay with them, but we have a growing network of responders who will be able to take over monitoring from you until entanglement specialists arrive.

   -Stay back 100 meters from the whale. Stay alongside – never cross in front or behind the whale.

   -Be careful and vigilant to avoid any entangling gear.

   -Move slowly, change direction gradually – if the whale becomes agitated it will make it more difficult for responders to disentangle the whale.

4. DOCUMENT the whale and entangling gear. The pictures you take may be the only ones we have if the whale is lost.

Thank you for helping us find and free more entangled whales in the Pacific Northwest!

Interested in learning more about how to properly assess, document, and report critical entanglement information? You can now take a Level 1 U.S. Whale Entanglement Course online. Please note this course will not prepare or qualify you to perform or assist in the actual process of disentangling a whale.

Responding to entangled whales is a dangerous job that requires a team of highly-trained and certified responders, and SR3 regularly conducts specialized trainings to expand our region’s response capacity. A robust entanglement network is critical to successfully helping entangled whales, and we are grateful to our current partners: Cascadia Research Collective, the Makah Tribe, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and Oregon State University. 

REFERENCES

1 Saez, L., D. Lawson, and M. DeAngelis. 2020. Large whale entanglements off the U.S. West Coast, from 1982-2017. NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-OPR-63, 48 p.

2 Moore M, Bogomolni A, Bowman R, Hamilton P, Harry C, Knowlton A, Landry S, Rotstein D, Touhey K. 2006. Fatally entangled right whales can die extremely slowly. Oceans'06 MTS/IEEE-Boston, Massachusetts September 18-21, 2006 - ISBN: 1-4244-0115-1, 3 pp.

3 Richardson K, Asmutis-Silvia R, Drinkwin J,Gilardi KVK, Giskes I, Jones G,O'Brien K, Pragnell-Raasch H, Ludwig L, Antonelis K ,S Barco, Henry A, Knowlton A, Landry S, Mattila D,  MacDonald K, Moore M, Morgan J, Robbins J, vanderHoop J, Hogan E. 2019. Building evidence around ghost gear: Global trends and analysis for sustainable solutions at scale. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 138:222-229.

4 Lyman, E., 2014. 2013–2014 Hawai'i Large Whale Entanglements and Response Efforts Around the Main Hawaiian Islands Season-end Report. Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Accessed May 4, 2018. https://nmshawaiihumpbackwhale.blob.core.windows.net/hawaiihumpbackwhale-prod/media/archive/res/pdfs/ss2014disentangle.pdf

5 Asmutis-Silvia, R, Barco, S, Cole, T, Henry, A, Johnson, A, Knowlton, A, Landry, S, Mattila, D, Moore, M, Robbins, J, Van der Hoop, J. 2016. Rebuttal to published article “A review of ghost gear entanglement amongst marine mammals, reptiles and elasmobranchs” by M. Stelfox, J. Hudgins, and M. Sweet. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 117. 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.11.052.

Monitoring whale health in Antarctica

Dr. Holly Fearnbach, SR3’s Marine Mammal Research Director, and her colleagues Dr. John Durban (Southall Environmental Associates) and Jessica Farrer (SR3) recently completed their month-long annual health assessment of top predators (killer whales) and top consumers (humpback and minke whales) in the rapidly warming waters around the Antarctic Peninsula. Hosted onboard Lindblad Expedition’s National Geographic Explorer, the study was supported by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Conservation Fund. The team was able to collect photo-identification and aerial photogrammetry images of more than more than 150 individual killer whales, extending a fifteen-year time-series of population monitoring and five-year time series of monitoring body condition. They also continued to monitor the health status of large consumers in this system by successfully collecting aerial photogrammetry images of 31 individual humpback whales and three Antarctic minke whales, 12 of these with matching blow samples to assess respiratory microbiome and its relation to body condition. As part of a new, more comprehensive study of the diet of Antarctic killer whales, 6 free-floating fecal samples were collected from Type B2 killer whales- the first-ever fecal samples collected from killer whales in Antarctica, which will be analyzed for dietary composition using genetic techniques. The team is now back home starting the data analysis.

Aerial photograph of adult female Type B2 killer whale with her young, dependent calf swimming below her in echelon. Images like this will be analyzed to estimate size, monitor growth and evaluate body condition. Image was collected from >100ft above the whales using a small hexacopter drone. Research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 19091 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029.

Collage of aerial photographs of 31 individual humpback whale images in the productive coastal waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. Images like these will be analyzed to estimate size and evaluate body condition, and were collected non-invasively from >140ft above the whales using a small hexacopter drone. Research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 19091 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029.

Image showing a small unmanned hexacopter drone about to fly through the blow of a humpback whale in the Antarctic Peninsula. Blow samples are collected to describe the respiratory microbiome of individual whales; respiratory health is then related to estimates of body condition from photogrammetric measures. Research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 19091 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029.

The Antarctic field season is off to a great start!

Dr. Holly Fearnbach, SR3’s Marine Mammal Research Director, and her colleagues Dr. John Durban (Southall Environmental Associates) and Jessica Farrer (SR3) just finished a successful first trip of the year to Antarctica on board Lindblad Expedition’s National Geographic Explorer. The team is assessing the health of top predators (killer whales) and top consumers (humpback and minke whales) around the Antarctic Peninsula to understand how these populations are impacted by the rapid warming of this marine ecosystem. Photo-identification images are being collected to monitor the population trends of three ecotypes of Antarctic killer whales (Types A, B1 and B2) and a small hexacopter drone is being flown to collect aerial images of killer, humpback and minke whales to measure growth and assess body condition to infer nutritional status. The hexacopter is also being flown through exhaled “blow” samples from humpback and minke whales to identify respiratory pathogens linking respiratory health and body condition. Similarly, small skin and blubber samples are being collected to describe the relationship between body condition and blubber hormones. The team has two more trips to go over the next month to go, but they have already collected photo-identification images of ~45 Type B2 killer whales and aerial images of ~ 12 Type B2 killer whales, 14 humpback and 3 minke whales. To complete the health “check-up”, six blow samples and 11 skin and blubber samples were collected. This study is supported by the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Conservation Fund (LEX-NG).  

Aerial photograph of a group of Type B2 killer whales in the coastal waters of the Antarctic Peninsula; note the young calf swimming beside its mother and the white color of the whales, the result of a recent rapid migration to warm waters to maintain skin health. Images were collected from >100ft above the whales using a small hexacopter drone. Research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 19091 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029.

Aerial photograph of two humpback whales lunge feeding in the Antarctic Peninsula. These humpback whales migrate from tropical calving grounds off the coast of central and South America to the productive waters of Antarctica to feed on abundant krill. Images were collected non-invasively >100ft above the whales using a small hexacopter drone. Research conducted under NMFS Permit No. 19091 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit ACA 2017-029.

Antarctic killer whale research update

SR3’s Dr. Fearnbach and colleagues from NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Tethys Research Institute and ISPRA recently published a paper on the movement patterns of Antarctic killer whales. The paper titled “Skin in the game: Epidermal molt as a driver of long-distance migration in whales” was published in Marine Mammal Science (https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12661) and presents results from eight years of satellite tag tracking on four ecotypes of killer whales (Types A, B1. B2 and C) in the Southern Ocean, extending upon the previously published research Antarctic killer whales make rapid, round-trip movements to subtropical waters: evidence for physiological maintenance migrations? (https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0875). These papers describe rapid and long-distance movements away from Antarctica by all four ecotypes, hypothesized to facilitate skin regeneration in warmer waters. As such, these “skin molt migrations” are thought to represent an adaptation to allow foraging in productive, but frigid polar waters that are challenging for mammalian physiology.

Dr. Fearnbach and colleagues Dr. John Durban (Southall Environmental Associates) and Jessica Farrer (SR3) are currently en route to Antarctica onboard the M/V National Geographic Explorer to resume annual research monitoring the health of top consumers (humpback and minke whales) and top predators (killer whales) in the rapidly changing ecosystem of the Antarctic Peninsula. This project is supported by the Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic Conservation Fund. 

Photograph of an adult female Type B2 killer whale with her newborn calf in the coastal waters of the Antarctic Peninsula; note the yellow color due to accumulation of planktonic diatoms. This accumulation indicates that skin regeneration is not occurring in frigid Antarctic waters, requiring long-distance movements to warm tropical waters that are thermally advantageous. Photograph by Leigh Hickmott (SR3) collected under NMFS Research Permit 19091 and Antarctic Conservation Act Permit 2017-029.

Winter Killer Whale Health Assessement

SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and colleagues Dr. John Durban (Southall Environmental Associates, SEA) and Jessica Farrer (SR3) are extending killer whale health monitoring into the winter months. They will continue to use an unmanned multi-copter drone to non-invasively collect high-resolution aerial images of individual Southern Resident and Bigg’s transient killer whales to monitor growth and evaluate body condition. The team has already had an incredible encounter with more than 30 Bigg’s killer whales, allowing them to collect thousands of images that will be analyzed during the next few months as part of this long-term study to compare the health of killer whale populations in the Salish Sea.

Aerial image of a group of Bigg’s Transient killer whales taken in December 2019. Note the young calf (T46B1B) on the left side of the image with anomalously pale coloration. Despite this condition, this whale appears to be in robust condition. Image obtained using an unmanned hexacopter that was flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS permit #19091.

Support for health assessments of Southern Resident Killer Whales

Dr. Fearnbach and colleagues recently received funding to continue their project Monitoring the Nutritional Health of Southern Resident Killer Whales from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and partners. This study will continue using unmanned multi-copter drones to measure the body condition, growth and pregnancy rates of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Results will be relayed to management agencies in both the U.S. and Canada to help support management solutions for maintaining an adequate food supply for this endangered population.

Aerial image of the J31 and her young calf J56 from the Southern Resident killer whale population. Image was collected by SR3 and NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center in September 2019 using an unmanned octocopter flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS permit #19091.

New publication on Northern Resident Killer Whales!

SR3’s Dr. Fearnbach and colleagues from NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Vancouver Aquarium’s Coastal Ocean Research Institute and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Ocean and recently published a paper in Endangered Species Research (https://www.int-res.com/articles/esr2019/40/n040p183.pdf) on their aerial photogrammetry study of Northern Resident killer whales (NRKWs). Based on four years of drone imagery off northern Vancouver Island, this study documented growth to smaller adult sizes of NRKWs in recent decades, mirroring the growth trends Fearnbach and colleagues previously reported for endangered Southern Resident killer whales (https://www.int-res.com/articles/esr_oa/n013p173.pdf) and providing further evidence of correlated prey limitation in both populations. This evidence of constrained growth suggests that the effects of nutritional stress are not only lethal at times, but also have long-term consequences for the condition of whales in both populations.

Vertical aerial image of Northern Resident killer whales. Such images are being used to compare their growth and body condition to that of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. Image collected using an unmanned hexacopter at altitude of >100ft above the whales, permitted in Canada under the Species at Risk Act and flight authorizations from Transport Canada.

A happy ending to Friday the 13th!

It was a multi-day, community effort that ended in a humpback whale swimming free after it was successfully disentangled in Monterey Bay on Friday, December the 13th. Responders from the Pacific Large Whale Entanglement Response Network, including staff from the Marine Life Studies’ Whale Entanglement Team (WET)®, Cascadia Research, SR3 Sealife Response Rehab and Research, and The Marine Mammal Center (TMMC), successfully removed all the fishing gear that was wrapped around the body of the young whale.

The whale was first reported by a fisherman on December 9th and the US Coast Guard vessel Pike responded to and stood by until the response team arrived, but due to the whale’s unpredictable behavior it was lost. The following day the whale was spotted by Sea Spirit Ocean Safari, but unfortunately it was too late in the day to mount a response. On December 11th, a multi-agency search of Monterey Bay was conducted from sunrise to sunset and included: USCG aircraft, the USCG vessel Pike, a Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary vessel, a WET® team, and a Cascadia/SR3/TMMC team. Although the search turned up over 40 humpback whales, the entangled whale was not relocated.

Luckily on Friday the 13th, TowBoatUS saw the entangled whale and reported it to USCG. The WET® team was on the water nearby and able to relocate the whale and stand-by while network responders from SR3, Cascadia and TMMC mustered. The response team determined the configuration was life-threatening and the constricting wrap would cut into the whale’s body as it continued to grow. The team added 5 large buoys to help the fast-moving whale slow down and to stay near the surface. While being pulled behind the whale in a small inflatable boat, they were able to make a single cut to the line running across the whale’s back. The whale reacted sharply as all the gear quickly fell away and the whale swam away vigorously.

Many thanks to the USCG for their outstanding support conducting the search and the reporting parties who reported and documented the entanglement. The response was a success because of the support from so many members of the community and highlights the importance of standing by an entangled whale while calling 1-877-SOS-WHALe (1-877- 767-9245) or hail the United States Coast Guard on VHF CH-16.

All whale rescues are permitted under NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program # 18786-04.

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Sea Otter Champions, Kim and Bryan

Once hunted to extinction in Washington and Oregon, sea otters from Alaska were used to reestablish populations in the 1970s. There is a small, slowly recovering population here today, but they now face new man-made threats. The possibility of an oil spill in their habitat is a major, growing concern due to increased shipping traffic in the region. To prevent this species from arriving at the brink of extinction again, SR3 is preparing to help them in the event of an oil spill.

Sea otters are particularly vulnerable to the effects of an oil spill for several reasons. In the Pacific Northwest, the population of sea otters tend to cluster into large groups. Not only that, but the primary habitat where they gather is located near busy shipping lanes. An oil spill in their area would likely compromise a large portion, if not almost the entire population. Their fur, which they rely on to survive in our cold waters, is also the densest in the animal kingdom and would become matted with oil, quickly leading to hypothermia.

Knowing these risks and challenges, SR3 consulted with partners to figure out how to best prepare for sea otter rehabilitation and rescue, whether from oil spills or other entanglements, illnesses, or injuries. Partnering with the Washington Department of Fish Wildlife, we started creating an emergency response plan to ensure swift and effective action should the worst happen.

A response effort of this kind will also require specialized equipment which is not available for sale or made by any manufacturer. Instead we turned to our network of skilled volunteers, putting out a call for people who could help build a unique cart to effectively and safely transport sea otters.

Kim and Bryan, two SR3 volunteers with some excellent carpentry skills, responded to our call for help building a custom transport cart for sea otters.

Kim and Bryan, two SR3 volunteers with a passion for helping marine wildlife and some excellent carpentry skills, responded to our call. Working only off of a picture and some notes from other out-of-state marine wildlife centers, the pair took on the task.

Mishka, resident sea otter at the Seattle Aquarium, was eager to help test out Kim and Bryan’s prototype. Photo credit: Seattle Aquarium

Once a prototype was complete, SR3 partnered with the Seattle Aquarium to have their resident sea otters put it to the test. The otters brought their curiosity to the table, exploring the cart and giving us ample opportunity to verify if the dimensions and features of the cart would work well. The test was a success!

To ensure we are prepared to help as many otters as possible in the event of a crisis, we now had to build several additional carts. What better way to do that than a party?! More of our skilled volunteers generously gathered for what will be the first of several afternoon work parties and completed another four carts.

Thanks to the dedication of these volunteers, and generous grantors like the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Sea Otter Foundation and Trust, sea otters in the Pacific Northwest are now one step closer to life-saving care!

If you want to get involved with helping marine wildlife like Kim and Bryan, you can sign up as a volunteer here.

Fall Southern Resident Killer Whale Health Monitoring Update

SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and colleagues Dr. John Durban (NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center) and Jessica Farrer (SR3) completed a successful field effort as part of their long-term health assessment monitoring project of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. The team used an unmanned octocopter drone to non-invasively collect high-resolution aerial images of 63/73 whales in the population, including whales from all three social pods (“J”, “K” and “L” pods).These images will be measured to monitor growth and body condition of individually-identifiable whales of known age and life-history. Morphometric measurements will be compared to a 12-year time series for the same whales to infer changes in nutritional health and support management actions aiming to maintain an adequate food supply.  

Aerial images of endangered Southern Resident killer whales in L-pod collected in September 2019. These images will be used in photogrammetry analyses of growth and body condition. Images obtained using a remotely-piloted octocopter that was flown >100ft above the whales under NMFS Research Permit #19091.