Marine biologists disentangle right whale off the coast of Georgia

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Right whale disentanglement

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/01/27/marine-biologists-disentangle-right-whale-off-the-coast-of-georgia/

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CUMBERLAND ISLAND, Ga. – A 15-year-old right whale named Nimbus is now free from being entangled in a fishing rope. Nimbus was spotted by a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission whale survey aircraft entangled 13 miles east of Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Trained responders working from boats used special tools to remove 375 feet of 11/16 inch diameter synthetic rope that was passing through the whale’s mouth, dragging hundreds of feet behind its flukes. Responders were unable to remove a short segment of rope that was passing through the whale’s mouth, but the whale should be able to shed the remaining rope on his own in time.

Nimbus disentanglement
Nimbus disentanglement (NOAA permit #24359)

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Nimbus was last seen swimming south, 9 miles east of Cumberland Island, Georgia. Fishing rope entanglements are the leading cause of North Atlantic right whale deaths and injury. It’s one of the biggest challenges facing the species’ survival.

Nimbus disentanglement
Nimbus disentanglement (NOAA permit #24359)

Investigators with NOAA will work to determine the fishery rope’s origin. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources along with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, NOAA Fisheries and Song of the Whale all worked to respond to the disentanglement.

Nimbus is a male Atlantic right whale, named for the cloud-like scars on his lips that predate this entanglement.

Nimbus disentanglement
Nimbus disentanglement (NOAA permit #24359)

4 thoughts on “Marine biologists disentangle right whale off the coast of Georgia

  1. “We have an unprecedented amount of whales dying here at the same time there is this industrial activity taking place on a scale that has never before happened in these waters,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, a local nonprofit. “Why is this not being investigated? Why are these companies getting a pass?”

    How can the gov’t be so sure the deaths are ‘unrelated’ to wind when they have not investigated the cause?

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/01/25/wind-turbines-whales-biden/

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