Entangled humpback whale caught in fishing rope dramatically freed by lifeboat volunteers

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A workforce of lifeboat volunteers freed a humpback whale after it grew to become entangled in fishing ropes off the coast of Cornwall.

The distressed mammal was found wrapped up in crab or lobster pot strains in Mount’s Bay, close to the port of Newlyn, by wildlife-watching boat firm Marine Discovery Penzance on Sunday.

Quickly, a number of boat journey operators arrived in a bid to assist the whale, recognized as “Ivy”, earlier than the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) attended to chop the whale free from the ropes.

The dramatic rescue was caught on digicam by a lady stood on the shoreline who grew to become audibly emotional because the whale was freed.

A person additionally watching the rescue recommended the whale waved goodbye because it flapped its tail whereas swimming away.

Andy Cowie, proprietor of boat journey firm Atlantic Adventures, was among the many skippers to move out to whale after seeing a publish on social media.

Mr Cowie, who can also be a member of British Divers Marine Life Rescue, advised The Independent how the whale had develop into tied up in pot ropes used to attach crab and lobster pots to buoys.

“It had tried to free itself but had become more wrapped up in the ropes,” Mr Cowie mentioned.

“The whale also had a wound and was clearly quite distressed.”

He mentioned the workforce of skippers monitored the whale earlier than the RNLI decided to chop it free.

The whale had been seen in current weeks across the coast, mentioned Mr Cowie, who believed world warming might have been a cause for it being in the realm.

According to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, there have been at the very least 30 sightings of humpback whales recorded in 2023/24.

Mr Cowie mentioned: “Humpbacks migrate further south at this time of year to breed, and the thought is that because of global warming its food source is reduced further north so they haven’t been able to build up the fat stocks to be able to travel further south – and so stop around our coast line to feed before moving on south.”

Mr Cowie said dangers posed to whales in the region included fishing trawlers and lost nets.

He added: “Today highlighted the dangers our marine wildlife faces from human activity.

“We hope a prey Ivy recovers from this ordeal.”