NOAA biologists are urging people to be on the lookout for two whales in the humpback area that were caught with fishing equipment on Juneau. Juneau region on the morning of Monday.
One whale, called Manunauna (or Manu to shorten it, has been reported to be tangled in a line of crab pots within Fritz Cove on Monday morning. NOAA scientist Sadie Wright said the agency is monitoring the whale.
” style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”From the Coast Guard vessel, we could attach to it a satellite-tagged buoy,” she said. “If he slows down, or seems to show any signs of distress we could launch a second response. .”
Wright claimed that the entanglement could be life-threatening.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”It goes through the mouth, and hinders the ability of foraging,” she added.
The whale Manu was following two yellow buoys, with one green buoy in front of him. Manu was last seen close to Warm Springs Bay on Baranof Island however, Wright believes he’ll return to the Juneau region. She also said that NOAA would appreciate any photos or information that people have regarding Manu.
The whale with the second name was found entangled in Gillnet gear within Taku Inlet just before noon on Monday. Wright stated that NOAA is looking for any information about this whale, should anyone sees it.
span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”Stay at least 100 yards from the whale to ensure the whale’s protection and their own safety,” she stated. “Boat propellers could get caught by the entangling material that whales drag behind them. It can also make the situation more difficult .”
To decrease the possibility of entanglements Wright suggests that people stay clear of using floating lines.
NOAA Fisheries asks that people submit sightings to the marine mammal hotline, (877) 923-7773 and to U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16. NOAA is asking that anyone who sees whales, do not do any hand-on responses.
