Whale entangled with fishing gear among dozens seen in Cape Cod Bay

Dozens of whales were spotted in Cape Cod Bay and in the Cape Cod Canal on Tuesday morning, including one that has been entangled in fishing gear since last year. According to the Sandwich harbormaster’s office, approximately 30 of the massive creatures are in the area. They are believed to be right whales. The Center for Coastal Studies said Monday that the whales are in the area, taking advantage of the rich zooplankton blooms. According to CCS, the group includes five of this year’s 10 known mother-and-calf pairs. One of the young whales seen on Tuesday, a 5-year-old known as #5110, became entangled in fishing gear in December, CCS said. Some of the material was successfully removed last week, but experts believe the gear could still eventually kill the whale.”This will be a particularly challenging case to solve. While there may be enough entangling gear on the whale to kill him over the long term, there is not enough gear for us to use techniques we would normally use. With that in mind, I would temper expectations for this case,” CCS Marine Animal Entanglement Response Director Scott Landry said.At one point, two of them swam into the Sandwich Marina, and at least one swam through the canal. The harbormaster said that Environmental police vessels are out trying to keep other boats away from the whales. Sky5 flew overhead and saw several of the whales.
Dozens of whales were spotted in Cape Cod Bay and in the Cape Cod Canal on Tuesday morning, including one that has been entangled in fishing gear since last year.
According to the Sandwich harbormaster’s office, approximately 30 of the massive creatures are in the area. They are believed to be right whales.
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The Center for Coastal Studies said Monday that the whales are in the area, taking advantage of the rich zooplankton blooms. According to CCS, the group includes five of this year’s 10 known mother-and-calf pairs.
One of the young whales seen on Tuesday, a 5-year-old known as #5110, became entangled in fishing gear in December, CCS said. Some of the material was successfully removed last week, but experts believe the gear could still eventually kill the whale.
“This will be a particularly challenging case to solve. While there may be enough entangling gear on the whale to kill him over the long term, there is not enough gear for us to use techniques we would normally use. With that in mind, I would temper expectations for this case,” CCS Marine Animal Entanglement Response Director Scott Landry said.
At one point, two of them swam into the Sandwich Marina, and at least one swam through the canal.
The harbormaster said that Environmental police vessels are out trying to keep other boats away from the whales.
Sky5 flew overhead and saw several of the whales.