Large whales entangled in fishing gear face prolonged suffering and death; trained disentanglement teams provide critical but dangerous rescue services worldwide.
Whales entangled in fishing gear suffer a prolonged welfare crisis: the cutting lines may be embedded in their flesh, the drag of attached buoys impedes normal swimming and diving, and nutritional deprivation weakens them over time. The combination of physical injury, exhaustion, and restricted behavior causes sustained suffering that may continue for months. Successful disentanglement can restore whales to good health, but many are found too late. Preventive solutions including ropeless gear and reduced line density are essential for meaningful scale reduction.