A humpback whale that became tangled in a line from a lobster trap was swimming unfettered Monday, thanks to SeaWorld San Diego and U.S. Coast Guard personnel who freed it off the coast of La Jolla.
The crew of a fishing boat alerted the Coast Guard around 9:30 a.m. Sunday to the entangled whale and said the lobster trap appeared to be hindering its ability to swim, according to the Coast Guard.
SeaWorld also dispatched two rescue boats. However, one of the vessels had engine problems, which prompted the Coast Guard to send the Cutter Petrel to assist SeaWorld’s efforts to free the whale.
As the Petrel was en route later Sunday afternoon, it inadvertently sucked up a buoy float line being used as a locating beacon. When the float line was pulled taught, the line from the lobster trap parted, which allowed the whale to swim away.
“It was a great opportunity to work with these other agencies on this unique operation and have such a positive outcome,” said Master Chief Petty Officer John Bowen, Petrel’s commanding officer.
City News Service contributed to this article.
