NOAA holds entangled whale training sessions in Alaska

• News Home
• More from News of the North

Friday, September 23rd, 2022 8:20am

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

Park Ranger Bethany Robichaud throws a grapple in a practice session at Glacier Bay National Park in June 2022. (Photo Credit: Glacier National Park and Preserve.)

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - NOAA recently hosted multiple trainings and workshops in Metlakatla, Auke Bay, Gustavus, and Cordova, on how best to respond to entangled whales in Alaska waters.

These trainings brought together NOAA employees and our partner organizations to learn how to safely respond when encountering a large whale in distress.

NOAA Fisheries leads the Alaska Large Whale Entanglement Response Program. It includes a team of advanced, authorized responders and trainers who are experts at using specialized equipment to safely and legally respond to entangled whales. The program also emphasizes the importance of first response from the on-water community in Alaska.

"Whale disentanglement is inherently risky due to the size and strength of a whale, so it makes sense to be as prepared as you possibly can be,” said Christine Gabriele, Humpback Whale Monitoring Program, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. "One of the most useful aspects of the training is the hands-on practice on using a grappling hook and other specialized tools. You don't want your first try at throwing a grapple to be when there's an entangled whale swimming next to the boat. Practice helps us to be safer and more effective."    

Whales can become entangled when they swim though fishing gear and marine debris floating in the water column, such as rope, netting, and lines. If they get entangled in heavy fishing gear, anchors, or a mooring, they could end up pulling gear off the ocean floor and dragging it a long distance. Entanglements impact whales’ movements and ability to feed, dive, and survive—imperiling their health and safety. Dragging heavy gear requires them to use extra energy, which can result in reduced reproduction, potentially leading to reduced population size.

They said that in many cases, whales are able to self-release from entangling gear or debris, but they carry the scars from injuries sustained during the entanglement. One study conducted in Southeast Alaska found that 78% of humpback whales surveyed showed evidence of entanglement scarring, indicating that the whales had survived entanglements.

First responders are trained to make critical observations of the entangled whale; Photos and video of the whale (collected from a safe and legal distance of more than 100 yards), location and condition of the whale, direction the whale is headed, and Information about the material entangling the whale. First responders learn how to prioritize and record key information, such as the entangling materials, like type, color, and any markings or numbers, and where the entanglement is located on the whale's body. This will enable an assessment to determine if the entanglement is life threatening.

NOAA said that if you see an entangled whale, do not approach it. Contact those with the expertise, training, and specialized equipment to respond. They advise that getting too close to a very large and likely distressed animal can be dangerous—even life threatening. Make predictable movements with your boat and avoid shifting gears or revving the engine. Entangled whales frequently avoid boats after repeated close encounters, making disentanglement efforts even more difficult, so it’s best to leave it to the experts.

“The best way for the on-water community to help rescue whales is to report an entangled whale ASAP to the NOAA Fisheries hotline. Being a first responder from a safe distance and providing the initial information about the entanglement is the foundation of our response efforts,” stated NOAA’s Sadie Wright, Alaska Region Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator.

NOAA’s 24/7 entanglement hotline can be reached at (877) 9-AKR-PRD, (1-877-925-7773), or the U. S. Coast Guard can also relay VHF reports on Channel 16.

More from News of the North

• Coast Guard Cutter Stratton crew meets with local leaders in Savoonga

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - During their current Arctic patrol, crew members from Coast Guard Cutter Stratton met with leaders in Savoogna, Sept. 22.

• Annual Crime in Alaska report shows 14.5% decrease in crime

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Department of Public Safety has released the 2021 Crime in Alaska Report, its annual publication detailing crimes reported in Alaska, which reveals a 15.2% decrease in Alaska’s overall crime rate.

• Fund for Western Alaska storm recovery raises over $1 million

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Since The Alaska Community Foundation established the Western Alaska Disaster Recovery Fund on September 17th, over 2,400 individuals, families, small businesses, local foundations, statewide associations, Alaska Native organizations, and corporate sponsors have contributed.

• New coding program available statewide for Alaskan students

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development announced Monday statewide availability for a program that uses the popular game Minecraft to teach coding.

• Alaska Legislature’s new social media policy nixes banning and blocking

  (Alaska Beacon) - If Alaska’s state legislators remove constituents’ comments or block them on social media, they may forfeit state-paid legal protection, according to a new social media policy adopted Friday.

• It's flu vaccine time and seniors need revved-up shots

  (AP) - Doctors have a message for vaccine-weary Americans: Don't skip your flu shot this fall.

• Municipal Election Day is tomorrow in Juneau

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Voting in the 2022 Juneau city election ends on Tuesday night.

• Public comment open on request to withdraw Mendenhall Glacier land from mineral exploration

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The public comment period is open to provide comments on a Forest Service request to withdraw 4,560 acres adjacent to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area from mineral exploration and mining.

• Governor Dunleavy establishes Office of Energy Innovation

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed Administrative Order No. 340 last week, creating the Office of Energy Innovation aimed at addressing evolving energy needs in Alaska.

• Sen. Murkowski unveils 'Working Waterfronts Framework'

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski publicized a legislative framework Monday seeking to address working waterfront project needs in the state.

• National Weather Service Juneau wraps up September trends

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Rick Fritsch, one of the lead forecasters and the climate focal point for Southeast Alaska, National Weather Service Juneau summarized one of the wettest months of the year, September, with temperatures, rainfalls, and trends.

• 'Healing' totem, Native screens unveiled on Saturday

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Tlingit master carver Wayne Price unveiled his healing totem, Kaasei Satú on Saturday afternoon.