A young humpback whale was found stranded along the Oregon Coast near San Marine, leading to an extensive but unsuccessful rescue operation.
Rescue Efforts
From November 15 through 16 and into Monday, teams worked tirelessly to free the whale. Despite their efforts, experts ultimately decided to humanely euthanize the animal.
One advocate described the situation as "a painful reminder" of the preventable threats whales face from entanglement in fishing equipment.
Photos indicated the whale became entangled in a crab pot line on Saturday night.
Responders from NOAA Fisheries, the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Oregon State Police arrived to assist.
Witnesses dug trenches to keep the whale in water during high tide, while rescue crews used a pulley system to try turning it toward the sea.
On Monday morning, rescuers placed a bridle around the 26-foot, approximately 6,000-pound humpback and attempted to guide it during high tide.
Unfortunately, the lines broke and the bridle slipped off. With the tide falling rapidly, another attempt was not feasible.
"Trying to get a 6,000-pound animal off the beach is quite an undertaking," said Jane Holbrook of the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
By late morning, officials determined the whale was unlikely to survive until the next high tide. Euthanasia was carried out around 3 p.m. as the most humane option after rescue attempts failed.
A necropsy will be conducted to examine how the entanglement contributed to the stranding.
Entanglement Concerns
Fishing gear entanglement is a significant threat to whales on the West Coast, particularly humpback whales.
NOAA Fisheries reported that entanglements can cause severe injuries, impair swimming or feeding abilities, and often lead to prolonged suffering or death.
"The whale's death is a painful reminder of a preventable problem," said Ben Enticknap of Oceana Fisheries.
In 2024, NOAA confirmed 36 entangled whales off the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and California – the highest number since 2018, with humpbacks comprising most cases.
Prevention Measures
Oregon has reduced commercial crab gear in the water and temporarily closed some coastal areas during seasons when whales are most likely to be present.
Researchers are collaborating with fishermen to test on-demand or "ropeless" fishing gear that eliminates many vertical lines whales encounter.
Officials urge the public to report stranded or injured marine mammals to the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and maintain a safe distance to allow trained responders to work effectively.
