The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) successfully rescued two humpback whales in separate disentanglement operations this week – a juvenile whale west of Gqeberha on 19 July and an adult whale offshore of Cape St Francis on 23 July.
Both whales had become entangled in fishing ropes and gear, requiring specialised intervention from NSRI crews trained by the South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN).
Gqeberha operation saves young whale
Stephen van den Berg, NSRI Gqeberha duty coxswain, described Saturday’s dramatic rescue that began when maritime authorities received distress calls about an entangled whale.
“At 09:20, Saturday, 19 July, NSRI EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) and NSRI Gqeberha duty controllers were alerted by MRCC (Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) of a whale entangled in fishing rope and flotation buoys,” Van den Berg said.
A local fishing vessel had spotted the juvenile humpback whale between Kini Bay and Bushy Park, maintaining visual contact while requesting assistance through Telkom Maritime Radio Services.
The rescue operation involved launching two NSRI craft – Rescue 6 Alpha from the main Gqeberha station and Rescue 6 Charlie from the satellite station at Noordhoek Ski-Boat Club.
Additional support came from an NSRI rescue vehicle and coast watchers providing land-based assistance.
“On arrival on the scene a juvenile Humpback whale, about 9 to 10 metres in length, was located close offshore in the surf zone in heavy sea swells appearing to be entangled in three wraps of fishing rope and trailing flotation buoys,” Van den Berg explained.
The challenging conditions required precise timing.
“The NSRI rescue craft, in the surf zone, during a lull in between incoming breaking wave sets, was able to get in between the land side and the whale and was able to gently guide the entangled juvenile whale further out to sea to an area away from the heavy breaking sea swells,” said Van den Berg.
Using specialised SAWDN cutting equipment, the crew successfully freed the whale by cutting three fishing ropes.
“Although the young whale appeared to be tired, the whale swam free appearing to rejoin a large number of whales nearby that were further out to sea,” Van den Berg noted.
The operation concluded at 11:49, with all fishing gear recovered and returned to local vessels.
St Francis Bay rescues adult whale
Wednesday’s operation offshore of Cape St Francis involved a larger humpback whale, as described by Louwrens Bezuidenhout, NSRI St Francis Bay deputy station commander.
“On Wednesday, at 08:05, NSRI St Francis Bay were alerted by TNPA (Transnet National Ports Authority) Port of St Francis Port Control and by NSRI Oyster Bay following reports from local fishermen of a large whale appearing to be entangled in fishing rope, fishing gear, trailing floatation buoys, deep sea offshore approximately 4 nautical miles South West of the Paradise Beach water tower,” said Bezuidenhout.
The NSRI rescue craft Spirit of St Francis III launched with a SAWDN-trained crew and specialised cutting equipment.
Working with local fishing vessels and private craft, rescuers conducted a parallel sweeping search before locating the whale approximately 5 nautical miles south of Cape St Francis lighthouse.
“The large Humpback whale, estimated to be about 12 to 15 metres in length, and accompanied by a larger whale, was found to be entangled in a wrap of fishing rope trailing floatation buoys,” said Bezuidenhout.
The SAWDN crew made four strategic cuts to free the fishing rope.
“The whale appeared to swim away confidently accompanied by the larger whale – that had remained nearby during the disentanglement operation.”
The mission was completed by 11:08, with the rescue craft returning to base by 11:34.
Community cooperation praised
Both rescue leaders commended the maritime community’s swift response.
Van den Berg praised “the fishing vessels that were in the area for swiftly raising the alarm and remaining on site to guide the rescue crew to the affected whale.”
Bezuidenhout similarly recognised “the assistance of the local maritime and fishing community that swiftly raised the alarm.”
