Mackay Whale Watching report that a young orca, caught in gill net yesterday off the coast of Vancouver Island in Canada, was successfully freed by fishermen. Read below for more information.
"What a stressful morning!! Young I 103 from the I 15's got caught in a gill net near Port Hardy. We monitored close by ready to assist. The young whale went under water covered in net for around 12 minutes. At the 4 minute mark the whole family I4, I 5 and their offspring dove down and stayed with it under water. The fisherman was quick thinking and pulled the net in reeling up 103. She was caught on her tail the rest of the net had been cut free possibly by her family when they were all under water. The fisherman was able to cut her loose and when she was freed she swam straight to her family. They took off towards Malcolm Island where thankfully research vessels were able to keep an eye on them to make sure she was ok. A very rare event that I have never seen. We were all happy to see her swim away it was something I personally never want to witness again. Many thanks to the fisherman for freeing her and saving her life."
Here's an article with more information about the young orca:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/2014/08/22/young-orca-was-trapped-in-a-gill-net-what-her-family-did-in-response-is-fascinating/
"What a stressful morning!! Young I 103 from the I 15's got caught in a gill net near Port Hardy. We monitored close by ready to assist. The young whale went under water covered in net for around 12 minutes. At the 4 minute mark the whole family I4, I 5 and their offspring dove down and stayed with it under water. The fisherman was quick thinking and pulled the net in reeling up 103. She was caught on her tail the rest of the net had been cut free possibly by her family when they were all under water. The fisherman was able to cut her loose and when she was freed she swam straight to her family. They took off towards Malcolm Island where thankfully research vessels were able to keep an eye on them to make sure she was ok. A very rare event that I have never seen. We were all happy to see her swim away it was something I personally never want to witness again. Many thanks to the fisherman for freeing her and saving her life."
Here's an article with more information about the young orca:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/2014/08/22/young-orca-was-trapped-in-a-gill-net-what-her-family-did-in-response-is-fascinating/
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