MyPE

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Whale Number 186 Assisted

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At 17h01, Sunday, 04th August, SA Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) volunteers launched from Port Alfred aboard two NSRI Port Alfred sea rescue craft, Lotto Challenger and Rescue 11 Alpha, following reports from a container ship, passing the coast off-shore of Port Alfred, that alerted Port Elizabeth TNPA (Transnet National Port Authority) of a whale they had spotted to be entangled in fishing rope lines and floatation buoys in the vicinity off-shore of Port Alfred on the East Coast.

On arrival on the scene SAWDN and NSRI Port Alfred commenced a search but no sign of the whale could be located and at last light on Sunday evening the search operation was suspended.

At 07h30, Monday, 05th August, SAWDN were alerted by fishermen at sea on a fishing boat who spotted the entangled whale 1.5 nautical miles off-shore of the Kowie River Mouth, Port Alfred, and they raised the alarm and SAWDN volunteers and NSRI Port Alfred volunteers aboard the 2 NSRI Port Alfred sea rescue craft responded to the location.

SWADN members in Port Elizabeth and in Cape Town communicated advice to the Port Alfred team during the operation and monitored the operation.

While the SAWDN cutting equipment and gear, in Port Elizabeth, was being arranged to be transported to Port Alfred, the SAWDN and NSRI Port Alfred members, in Port Alfred, fearing that the whale may move away from where it had been spotted, rigged makeshift disentanglement cutting equipment and makeshift disentanglement gear that was used in this disentanglement operation.

On arrival on the scene a 9 meter Humpback whale was found with fishing rope entangled through and around the whales mouth attached to fishing gear, crayfish traps and flotation buoys.

In a sensitive and delicate operation lasting 2 hours the team gently cut free all entangled fishing rope and gear successfully freeing the adult whale from the entanglement.

The fishing rope and gear was recovered for disposal.

While the whale appeared to be weak and tired the whale does appear to be healthy and following this ordeal SAWDN are confident that after this successful disentanglement operation the whale will survive and gradually regain strength and health.

This is the 186th Whale assisted by the SAWDN Network since inception.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.