Minke whale caught in fishing gear rescued off the coast of Plymouth

PLYMOUTH — A minke whale entangled in fishing gear was rescued off the coast of the coast of Plymouth on Thursday morning, according to the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown.

The approximately 20-foot-long minke whale was trapped in fishing gear and anchored in place, but made it to the surface for air, according to the center's press release.

The Center for Coastal Studies' Marine Animal Entanglement Response (MAER,) alongside Plymouth's harbormaster, the National Marine Fisheries Service, commercial fishermen and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation disentangled the rope looped through the whale's lower jaw with a hook-shaped knife.

Minkes tend to be more nervous than other species of whales, said Scott Landry, MAER director, making this incident a delicate one.

"Yesterday worked out well for the whale and for the people involved," he said. "It was in a pretty bad position as more sharks come into the bay at this time of year. Time was of the essence."

Entanglement common problem for whales

Entanglement is unfortunately an endemic problem for whales, Landry said. Experts say an estimated 10-15% of other whale species, like humpbacks, get entangled each year.

More: How to see whales from shore on Cape Cod: Luck and pluck can pay off, big-time

"If you think about it in terms of population, if 10-15% of your town's population was getting into accidents each year, that's a huge problem," he said.

Luckily, the professionals handled the situation and the minke was set free.

Landry encourages people who come across entangled wildlife, like whales or turtles, to contact the appropriate organizations, like the Center for Coastal Studies or the Coast Guard, instead of attempting to rescue the animal themselves, which can often do more harm than good.

"It's not only good for the whales but good for public safety, too," he said. "When you come across something that is hurt, you want to help it, but sometimes trying to help it can be lethal."

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Minke whale snagged in fishing gear off Plymouth coast freed