In the United States, at least 115 marine species are impacted by entanglement.
A whale’s majesty can be glimpsed during a whale watching trip anywhere the regal mammals roam. But the chances of that vision being marred are increasing as more whales become entangled in fishing gear.
Whale entanglements in commercial fishing gear are happening almost every week along the east coast of the U.S. and Canada, according to a recent study. The study also said that switching to ropes that break more easily could save those whales.
The Consortium for Wildlife Bycatch Reduction initiated the study and the New England Aquarium, and the Center for Coastal Studies conducted it. The study concluded that ropes that break at 1,700 pounds or less could reduce life-threatening entanglements for large whales by as much as 72 percent.
The ropes would still work for much of the fishing industry.
The study examined ropes retrieved from live and dead whales entangled in fishing gear from 1994 to 2010.
And it’s not just whales that are having issues. According to a 2014 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report on entanglements, seals, dolphins, sea birds, sea turtles and other marine species around the world are becoming entangled and dying. The report said that in the United States, at least 115 marine species are impacted by entanglement, including mammals, turtles, birds, fish, and crabs. Worldwide, the number tops 200.
The consortium had other suggestions to stem the problem, including: rare earth metals for shark deterrence, acoustic deterrents (marine mammals), using red rope as whales may see and avoid red rope, using stiffer rope to prevent entanglements, and using different hook strength.
There are also teams worldwide that go out and detangle whales and other marine life by hand.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.