Whale entangled in net successfully
freed
May 31, 2006
Wednesday
Petersburg, Alaska - The United States Coast Guard received a
transmission Tuesday afternoon from the fishing vessel Fin that
a humpback whale was entangled in its gill net in Frederick Sound
outside Petersburg and the crew of the cutter Anacapa launched
its small boat to assess the situation.
Coast Guard Petty Officers
Justin Olson and Brian Williams work with NOAA disentangler Don
Holmes in Frederick Sound near Petersburg to free a whale that
became trapped in a gill net. Official Coast Guard photo by Lt.
Herbert Law, Coast Guard cutter Anacapa.
When the small boat arrived on scene, it was determined that
the master of the Fin was in no immediate danger and the
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was notified.
NOAA requested the Coast Guard's assistance in taking photos
and disentangling the whale. The Anacapa's small boat and crew
returned to Petersburg and transported Don Holmes, a NOAA disentanglement
expert, and his gear to the scene. On scene the Coast Guard acted
as a platform from which the specialist could attempt to free
the whale.
Coast Guard Petty Officers
Justin Olson and Brian Williams work with NOAA disentangler Don
Holmes in Frederick Sound near Petersburg to free a whale that
became trapped in a gill net. Official Coast Guard photo by Lt.
Herbert Law, Coast Guard cutter Anacapa.
With the cooperation of the Coast Guard and NOAA, disentanglement
efforts were a success and the whale was observed swimming normally
out into the open waters of Frederick Sound. The captain of the
Fin continued with his fishing trip as planned.
The Coast Guard cutter Anacapa
is a 110-foot patrol boat stationed in Petersburg.
Source of News & Photos:
United States Coast Guard
www.uscg.mil
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