latimes.com
Biologists fear for humpback whale seen entangled in fishing gear near San Pedro
Biologists are hoping to save a humpback whale last seen entangled in a fishing net off the coast of San Pedro. The whale was first spotted near Palos Verdes Thursday by passengers and crew on a midday whale watching tour. Wildlife experts responding to the tour’s report set out on boats to try to remove the net, but were stymied by choppy waters. “The team made multiple attempts to reach the trailing gear, but the whale’s behavior and water and weather conditions hampered their efforts,” Sarah Mesnick, a biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center, told KTLA. “They also attempted to put on a satellite tracking tag, but similarly, conditions hampered their efforts.” The whale was last seen Thursday near Point Fermin in San Pedro. The same animal was observed without a net Aug. 22 off the coast of Humboldt County, and Sept. 20 near San Luis Obispo, according to reports. “Because of this entanglement, this whale is not able to move freely,” Harbor Breeze Cruises posted along with a video of the whale. This is the second entangled whale the tour operator has witnessed since August, the company said. The imperiled whale was seen...
