LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) – Rescuers will try again Saturday to remove more than 100 feet of fishing line from an entangled humpback whale that’s been moving south along the Southern California coast.
A team with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was able to cut away up to 100 feet of rope and buoys Friday but the 35-foot-long whale became agitated and dove deep, eluding rescuers for the rest of the day.
It was spotted again Saturday off the San Diego County coast, said Justin Viezbicke, a NOAA program specialist who was part of Friday’s effort.
The whale is the same creature that was seen struggling with ropes several days ago off Santa Barbara, he said.
He cautioned that despite the attention the rescue was receiving, the chances of completely freeing the massive animal were slim because of its size and the nature of the entanglement.