Marine Animal Welfare

Whale Entanglement Response and Welfare

Whale entanglement in fishing gear causes severe suffering and death. Rapid response disentanglement teams and gear modifications address both acute and systemic causes.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 large whales are entangled in fishing gear annually worldwide
Entangled whales may drag gear for months, causing exhaustion, infection, and starvation
Disentanglement requires specialized training, equipment, and often involves significant risk
Ropeless fishing gear that deploys on-demand eliminates entanglement risk entirely
Right whale entanglement mortality threatens population viability with under 400 individuals remaining

Welfare Considerations

Whale entanglement causes some of the most prolonged suffering of any marine welfare issue - animals dragging heavy gear for months while progressively weakening. The suffering is invisible to the public but documented through graphic detail when entangled animals are photographed at sea. Both reactive disentanglement teams and systemic gear modification are needed to address this crisis.

What You Can Do

Support whale disentanglement organizations with donation
Advocate for mandatory ropeless or weak-link fishing gear in whale habitat areas
Choose seafood from fisheries using whale-safe gear modifications
Report entangled whales to coast guard or wildlife hotlines if sighted from boats