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Wildlife officials are investigating how a young humpback whale became entangled in crab gear before it stranded Wildlife experts are trying to figure out how a young humpback whale became tangled in crab gear before it became stranded and was euthanized near Yachats.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is investigating how a young humpback whale became entangled in fishing gear before it died this week near Yachats.
During a highly visible rescue effort at a state park, the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network — coordinated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — found rope in the whale’s mouth as it lay onshore for nearly 45 hours. The animal grew weaker and was unlikely to survive, and responders decided euthanasia was the most humane option.
NOAA traced the yellow polypropylene line to a commercial Dungeness crab fishery in Oregon left over from the 2023-24 season.
“Whale entanglement has been at the forefront for us over the past few years,” Justin Ainsworth, Oregon Fish and Wildlife’s marine resources program manager, said in a statement about the investigation. “The stranding of this young whale over the weekend underscores the importance of the work we have been doing in partnership with Oregon’s crab fleet to reduce the risk of entanglement.”
Research cited by the agency shows West Coast humpback whale populations are growing about 8% annually, increasing the potential conflicts between whales and crab gear.
