Whale Entanglement Numbers on the Rise, NOAA Reports

Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, taken under NOAA Fisheries Permit #26919

The number of large whales entangled in fishing gear rose in 2024, according to a new report from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). A total of 95 entanglements were documented across U.S. waters, including 17 cases off the coast of Massachusetts. This marks an increase from 2023 and is higher than the historical average.

Of the 95 cases, 77 involved humpback whales. Scott Landry, director of the Marine Animal Entanglement Response Program at the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, explained why:

“Many whale watching tours target humpbacks because they’re often closer to shore than other species. That makes them more likely to be seen — and reported.”

The report also documented four cases of North Atlantic right whales, one of the world’s most endangered whale species, but that number is a bit deceiving, as it only mentions the ones spotted in US waters. There were another 6 in Canada not mentioned in this report.

Also in the report were 4 instances of North Atlantic right whales, however this is only whales entangled in the US. There were an addition 6 reported in Canada in 2024.

Heather Pettis, senior scientist at the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, said the data provides important context:

“The report is really great in highlighting the big picture for whales with entangled gear. But whales can suffer long after they’ve been freed. Entanglements can affect growth, reproduction, feeding, and ultimately survival.”

Whales that remain trapped in ropes, nets, or fishing lines may suffer severe injuries, infections, starvation, or drowning. In some cases, entanglements can last for years.

In response, NOAA’s Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan has prompted some fishermen to adopt lower-risk gear, such as weaker ropes that whales can break through. There are also ongoing trials of ropeless fishing gear, though it has yet to be mandated or widely adopted.

As entanglements continue to rise, scientists stress that reducing the risk is critical — not only to protect vulnerable populations like the North Atlantic right whale, but to ensure healthier ecosystems in U.S. and Canadian waters.

Original article - Number of whales entangled in fishing gear increased in 2024, says NOAA report | New Hampshire Public Radio