A humpback whale wrapped in fishing line and a buoy, spotted about 10km off the Karitane coast last week. PHOTO: WILL RAYMENT/ UNIVERSITY OF OTAGOA humpback whale spotted entangled in fishing gear off the Otago coast has been freed by Department of Conservation staff. Doc staff appealed for further sightings of the whale, and yesterday it was reported close to the Kaikoura coast by Whale Watch Kaikoura staff. Doc's large whale disentanglement team then spent three hours working to free the whale, before successfully removing the last of the rope about 7pm yesterday. Doc ranger Mike Morrissey said the rope entangling the whale "was tightly wound around its tail leaving extensive and deep cuts, but they should heal''.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 04, 2019 00:44 UTC