A collaborative effort among fishermen, community members and marine organizations freed a juvenile humpback whale entangled in fishing gear on Tuesday, July 18, near Crescent City, California.
According to NOAA Fisheries West Coast, a fishing vessel first reported that the 25-foot humpback whale was caught in a shrimp trap. The whale was successfully cut free after the combined effort of fishermen and responders from the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center, Humboldt State University, Oregon State University, US Coast Guard and California Whale Rescue.
Drone video shows the whale being freed from the fishing lines. Credit: Ben Lester, Oregon State University/NOAA Fisheries via Storyful
