Humpback Whale in Salish Sea Loses Tail, Possibly Entangled in Fishing Gear
Tail-less humpback whale. (Video: San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network)
A tail-less humpback whale was spotted in the Salish Sea, between Washington State, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, raising concerns among experts about its survival, as reported by ABC News on August 3. The last sighting of the whale was on July 23.
Jessica Farrer, research director at the Whale Museum on San Juan Island, Washington, stated that while she has seen injured humpback whales before, she has never encountered a case like this one. “Everyone is emotional when witnessing a humpback whale dive and admire its enormous tail, which can be over 15 feet wide. But this whale has lost that part. It’s like losing our legs,” she said.
The tail-less humpback whale in the Salish Sea between Washington State, USA.
After reviewing photos and videos, experts concluded that the whale likely lost its tail due to entanglement in something. One of the dangers humpback whales face is entanglement in fishing gear such as anchor lines, traps, and nets, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries). Other threats include ship strikes, disturbances, and food source impacts due to climate change.
NOAA Fisheries noted that evidence shows most humpback whales have been entangled in gear at some point but are often able to free themselves. Experts are unclear about the number of whales that die after becoming entangled.
Last year, there were 16 confirmed cases of humpback whales entangled in objects along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, according to NOAA Fisheries data. In 2016, the number of such cases reached 40. That year, a delayed Dungeness crab fishing season in California may have resulted in more fishing gear appearing in areas where whales congregate.
A tail-less humpback whale has a low chance of long-term survival, according to John Calambokidis, a biologist with the Cascadia Research Collective. He shared that one of the tragedies of whales becoming entangled in objects is that death can occur slowly and painfully.
