Spanish divers on May 20 rescued a 12-meter-long humpback whale entangled in fishing nets drifting off the coast of Mallorca.
The humpback whale was caught in fishing nets off the coast of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. (Video: Reuters)
Footage recorded shows the massive whale ensnared by a red fishing net wrapped around its body, preventing it from opening its mouth and using its pectoral fins. This prompted rescue centers to intervene immediately after the animal was spotted off the eastern coast of Mallorca, about 4.8 km from Cala Millor beach.
After initial unsuccessful attempts to free the whale from a boat, divers from the Albatros and Skualo centers had to jump into the sea to cut the net with knives in a daring operation that lasted 45 minutes.
The massive whale was entangled in a red fishing net.
“In the first ten seconds, the whale seemed a bit tense; you could see bubbles everywhere. But then I think it realized we were there to help, so it started to relax,” said marine biologist Gigi Torras, head of the Albatros diving center.
After freeing itself from the fishing net, the whale lingered for a moment to recover and even glanced at the divers “as a sign of thanks” before swimming away, Torras added.
For Torras, the rescue and the whale’s reaction were the “most wonderful birthday gift ever.”
“Friday (May 20) was also my 32nd birthday. This is only the third time a humpback whale has been observed in the Balearic Islands,” Torras shared with Reuters.
Drifting nets are dubbed “the wall of death” because they unintentionally kill numerous marine creatures. This type of fishing gear has been banned by the United Nations for the past 30 years.
