Marine Wildlife

Marine Wildlife: Whale Entanglement Disentanglement

Whale entanglement in fishing gear is a growing global welfare problem, and trained disentanglement teams provide an emergency welfare response for affected individuals.

Key Facts

An estimated 300,000 cetaceans die in fishing gear globally each year
Entanglement in pot/creel ropes and gill nets is the most common cause of large whale deaths
Disentanglement requires specialist training, equipment, and typically a team approach from vessels
Some whales carry entanglement injuries for months or years before death or rescue
The Large Whale Disentanglement Network in North America has responded to hundreds of entanglements

Welfare Considerations

Entanglement causes progressive welfare deterioration over days to months as gear lacerates tissue, restricts swimming and feeding, and exhausts the whale through drag. Death from entanglement is prolonged and involves significant suffering. Disentanglement, while stressful, can save the life of an animal that would otherwise face certain death. Prevention through gear modification is the highest-priority intervention.

What You Can Do

Contact national disentanglement response networks immediately if you see an entangled whale
Never attempt to cut gear from an entangled whale yourself - trained teams must respond
Support campaigns for fishing gear modification to reduce entanglement risk
Donate to BDMLR or equivalent organisations training disentanglement responders
Advocate for mandatory weak links and reduced rope lengths in high-risk fisheries