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Watch: Humpback whale, calf rescued off Mass. coast

The mother and calf are expected to have a smooth recovery, according to the Center for Coastal Studies.

A humpback whale and her calf are rescued from fishing gear. Center for Coastal Studies

July 10, 2024

1 minute to read

After a tuna fishing boat discovered a humpback whale and her calf tangled in 150 feet of rope on Monday on Stellwagen Bank, east of Boston, a team of rescuers saw to it that the pair was quickly disentangled.

The whale, identified as “Mudskipper,” and her calf were promptly released by the Center for Coastal Studies’ Marine Animal Entanglement Response team, according to a release from the center.

Mudskipper held the fishing gear in her mouth as her 7-month-old calf tried to nurse from her, posing a risk of injury, the release said.

But thanks to fast reporting of the sighting, the Marine Animal Entanglement Response team was able to use an inflatable boat and other floats to remove the netting from Mudskipper’s mouth.

Once released, the whales quickly swam away. The pair is expected to recover well, according to MAER.

“Many thanks goes to the crew of the tuna fishing vessel for promptly reporting the sighting and to the Cape Ann Whale Watch Company for relaying the report,” the Center for Coastal Studies wrote.

The center is a non-profit based in Provincetown dedicated to preserving marine ecosystems and the coastal environment.

See video footage of the rescue below: