A photographer's drone eye view of a humpback whale in distress has brought attention to the growing issue of marine life entanglement. John Kowitz, an underwater photographer, and his team were on a mission to capture the beauty of the Hawaiian waters when they stumbled upon a dire situation. As they flew the drone over the humpback whale, they noticed something sinister - hundreds of feet of fishing gear and chains embedded deep into its skull. The whale was struggling to free itself, dragging the heavy equipment through the ocean, a sight that left Kowitz and his crewmates in awe and concern.
Despite the whale's obvious discomfort, it had a companion for company, perhaps offering some comfort in its injured state. The boat's captain, trained in whale disentanglement, took immediate action. They called the relevant NOAA authorities and were granted a permit to document the animal's plight. Kowitz and his team spent two and a half hours meticulously capturing drone photos, topside DSLR photos, and Insta360 underwater footage to provide the NOAA response team with detailed information about the entanglement. The goal was to organize an effective plan to free the whale.
However, the photographer and his crewmates were faced with a challenging situation. They desperately wanted to help, but they lacked the proper tools and training to remove the fishing gear from the whale. They had to wait for the rescue team to arrive and take charge. Once the rescue team arrived, they worked tirelessly for five hours and achieved an incredible result: they managed to remove 251 feet of line, 10 feet of chain, and several hooks from the animal. In total, approximately 320 feet of gear was removed from the whale, allowing it to shake free the line running through its mouth with ease.
Kowitz explains that the NOAA attached buoys to the line to slow the whale down, enabling them to get close enough to cut the lines and free the whale. This successful disentanglement effort is a testament to the crucial role that trained professionals and organizations like NOAA play in marine life rescue. The whale, now free from its burdens, started swimming faster and moving around, a clear sign of newfound freedom. Kowitz urges everyone to be more mindful of our ocean and the impact of commercial fishing, which is increasing the frequency of such entanglements. He has witnessed similar situations with mobula rays in Mexico and frequently sees sharks tangled in fishing lines. Follow Kowitz's marine adventures on his Instagram and website to stay updated on his efforts to protect and preserve our precious marine life.
