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Whale trapped in illegal fishing net freed by daring divers
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Socrates
May 25, 2022, 9:37:53 AM5/25/22
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https://metro.co.uk/2022/05/24/spain-whale-trapped-in-illegal-fishing-net-freed-by-daring-divers-16704144/?ico=zone-post-strip_item_3_news
Spanish divers managed to save the life of a 12-metre long whale trapped
in an illegal fishing net after a daring operation to cut it free.
The huge humpback became entangled in a banned drift net off the island
of Mallorca on Friday.
Divers from Palma de Mallorca’s Aquarium were dispatched to try and
untangle it from the net, a variety outlawed because of the risks it can
pose to wildlife.
The contraption had become fastened around its mouth, leaving the whale
unable to eat, weakened and drifting dangerously towards the beach.
One of the divers involved in the operation, marine biologist Gigi
Torras, said she thought the whale had given them ‘a little thank you
sign’ after cutting it free.
The 32-year-old said: ‘It was like out of this world, it was incredible,
just incredible.’
After initial attempts to cut the net from a boat failed, divers from
Albatros and Skualo diving centres joined the effort and plunged into
the sea to remove the mesh with their knives.
Ms Torras said: ‘The first ten seconds she got a bit nervous, you know,
like bubbles everywhere, but then I don’t know, call me crazy but I
think she knew we were there to help her and she just relaxed and we
started working from the front of her mouth backwards.
‘We kept cutting and cutting and she kind of gave a little wiggle to get
herself out of it.’
It took 45 minutes of work to totally free the giant animal from the ropes.
She said the whale hung around to regain her strength in the company of
the four divers before swimming off.
Spanish divers managed to save the life of a 12-metre long whale trapped
in an illegal fishing net after a daring operation to cut it free.
The huge humpback became entangled in a banned drift net off the island
of Mallorca on Friday.
Divers from Palma de Mallorca’s Aquarium were dispatched to try and
untangle it from the net, a variety outlawed because of the risks it can
pose to wildlife.
The contraption had become fastened around its mouth, leaving the whale
unable to eat, weakened and drifting dangerously towards the beach.
One of the divers involved in the operation, marine biologist Gigi
Torras, said she thought the whale had given them ‘a little thank you
sign’ after cutting it free.
The 32-year-old said: ‘It was like out of this world, it was incredible,
just incredible.’
After initial attempts to cut the net from a boat failed, divers from
Albatros and Skualo diving centres joined the effort and plunged into
the sea to remove the mesh with their knives.
Ms Torras said: ‘The first ten seconds she got a bit nervous, you know,
like bubbles everywhere, but then I don’t know, call me crazy but I
think she knew we were there to help her and she just relaxed and we
started working from the front of her mouth backwards.
‘We kept cutting and cutting and she kind of gave a little wiggle to get
herself out of it.’
It took 45 minutes of work to totally free the giant animal from the ropes.
She said the whale hung around to regain her strength in the company of
the four divers before swimming off.
(David P.)
May 26, 2022, 1:38:11 AM5/26/22
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