When a humpback whale named Pop Tart found itself in a tangle, Greater Victoria’s whale watching community sprang into action.
Identified as the 2016 calf of famed Salish Sea humpback whale Big Mama, Pop Tart spent nearly a week entangled in fishing gear, described as a buoy with a rope more than 30 metres long.
The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) has praised the collaboration between Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Marine Mammal Response Team and professional whale watchers from Greater Victoria and Washington state.
“Entanglement in fishing gear is one of the greatest threats to humpback whales not just in the Salish Sea, but globally,” said Erin Gless, PWWA executive director.
The rescue mission launched July 2, when the humpback was spotted with gear wrapped around its pectoral flipper in waters southwest of the capital city, by Victoria’s Orca Spirit Adventures.
After a report was made to the DFO, a team was dispatched to the area. However, they were unable to disentangle the humpback that evening.
The whale – nicknamed Pop Tart because she loved to pop up and breach as a young calf – then disappeared for two days, not sighted again until July 5 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
To assist, vessels from Sooke Coastal Explorations, Prince of Whales and Orca Spirit Adventures took turns watching Pop Tart for several hours while waiting for DFO to arrive.
“But frustratingly, Pop Tart went on a dive, disappeared into the fog, and was not seen again for the rest of the day,” said a PWWA release.
Refusing to give up on the humpback, Prince of Whales then launched a dedicated vessel on July 6 to search with a naturalist from nearby SpringTide Tours also aboard to help scan the waters.
She was found by Orca Spirit Adventures east of Race Rocks Ecological Reserve. However, DFO rescue efforts were hindered by deteriorating weather conditions.
Pop Tart was next sighted on July 8 by Eagle Wing Tours, still east of Race Rocks.
“To the crew’s delight, the fishing gear that had been wrapped around her flipper for nearly a week was no longer visible,” said PWWA.
When DFO arrived on scene, they were able to confirm via drone that Pop Tart was completely gear-free.
Orca Spirit Adventures, which first sounded the alarm on the humpback’s predicament, has welcomed the news.
“We’re incredibly relieved to hear that humpback whale Pop Tart has been successfully disentangled and is now swimming free,” they said in a social media post.
“We’re proud to have joined fellow Pacific Whale Watch Association members in supporting the search and monitoring efforts alongside Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Marine Mammal Rescue Unit. This outcome is a powerful reminder of what collaboration and dedication can achieve for marine wildlife.”
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