Skip to content
  • Shop
  • SafeTrx
  • Contact Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Flickr YouTube RSS
NSRI Logo
Donate now
Donate now Get involved
  • Newsroom
    • Rescues
  • About Us
    • Governance
    • Stakeholders
    • Values
    • Brand Ambassadors
    • Staff
    • Vacancies
    • History
    • Technology
  • Rescue
    • Base Finder
    • Infrastructure
    • In-House Training Academy
    • Lifeguards
  • Education
    • Water Safety Lessons in Schools
    • Pink Rescue Buoys
    • Emergency Signage
    • Rip Currents
    • Awareness Campaigns
    • Western Cape Drowning Prevention Framework
    • BravoBravo
  • Funding
    • Partnering with us
    • Sponsor a boat
    • Leave a gift in your will
    • Assets for sale
  • Library
    • Annual Reports
    • Sea Rescue Magazine
    • Ad Campaigns
    • Download Images and Artwork
    • Downloadable Posters
    • Policies
    • Guidelines
  • Donate to Win
    • NSRI Double Mitsubishi Draw
    • Win R50 000 each month
search
  • Newsroom
  • About Us
    • Brand Ambassadors
  • Shop
  • Rescue
  • Education
  • Funding
  • Library
  • Donate to Win
  • SafeTrx
  • Contact Us
search
close
  • You are here: Home
  • /
  • Rescue
  • /
  • Humpback whale entangled in rope

Humpback whale entangled in rope

Rescue / 29 June 2014

The South African Whale Disentanglement Network (SAWDN) MEDIA RELEASE:

At 11h16, Sunday, 29th June, The South African Whale Disentanglement Network was activated to respond to the South West Reef, approximately 3 nautical miles off-shore of Cape Point, where Rock Lobster fisherman reported finding a 10 meter juvenile humpback whale entangled in rope and buoys anchored to rock lobster traps.

An NSRI Kommetjie sea rescue craft, SPIRIT OF WINELANDS, and an NSRI Hout Bay sea rescue craft, NADINE GORDIMER, responded with NSRI crew who volunteer and are trained in SAWDN whale disentanglement and accompanied by a Department of Environmental Affairs – Oceans and Coasts volunteer member of SAWDN who commanded the operation.

On arrival on-scene the whale was found to be entangled in rope anchored to rock lobster traps entangled with rope around the left flipper, around the head, around the right flipper and around the tail and with three floatation buoys and in the Spring High Tide the tail was submerged.

An extensive disentanglement operation progressed using the specialised disentanglement equipment, made particularly difficult in this case with the tail anchored to the lobster traps submerged under water, and in an operation lasting an hour and a half all rope appears to have been successfully removed from the whale.

Usually in these cases the whales we have helped tend to linger for a while following an operation of this nature but in this case the whale, appearing to be healthy and with minimal injury, continued on its way confidently.

The operation was completed at 16h53.

SAWDN commend the rock lobster fishermen for their speedy reaction in raising the alarm.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN WHALE DISENTANGLEMENT NETWORK IS A VOLUNTEER NETWORK THAT BEGAN IN 2006 MADE UP OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT – OCEANS AND COASTS, NSRI, THE DOLPHIN ACTION AND PROTECTION GROUP, SA NATIONAL PARKS, THE SA POLICE SERVICES, RESEARCH ORGANISATIONS, THE NATAL SHARKS BOARD, TABLE MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARKS, WEST COAST WILDLIFE RESCUE AND VARIOUS MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS.

NSRI NEW B.008

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • LinkedIn
View previous story
View next story
  • Categories

  • Archives

  • Platinum Partners

    Platinum membership is an exclusive opportunity. Participation is limited to ten partners at any one time. Membership is seen as a long term partnership and brand investment over 5 years.


    Platinum partners


    Strategic Partners

    Magazine & Press Releases
    Receive news about the NSRI’s services, rescues, events, and more.

    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

    South African flag The Charity that Saves Lives on South African Waters

    • Newsroom
    • About Us
    • Rescue Bases
    • SafeTrx

    Head Office

    Mon - Fri 08:00 - 16:00

    1 Glengariff Road
    Three Anchor Bay
    Cape Town, 8005

    33° 54’ 32” S; 18° 23’ 53” E

    Contact Info

    Tel: +27 21 434 4011
    Fax: +27 21 434 1661
    E-mail: info@searescue.org.za

    PO Box 154, Green Point, 8051
    South Africa

    Registration Numbers

    Co. Reg. No: 1967/013618/08
    NPO Reg. No. 002 – 870

    Facebook Twitter Instagram Flickr YouTube RSS
    Back to top
    • Site Index
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • NSRI Training Academy

    © 2021 NSRI. All rights reserved.

    Emergency Numbers

    Sea Rescue emergency number from your cell phone: 112

    NORTHERN CAPE

    063 698 8971       Port Nolloth


    WESTERN CAPE

    060 960 3027      Lamberts Bay
    082 990 5966      Mykonos
    082 990 5974      Yzerfontein
    082 990 5958      Melkbosstrand
    082 990 5963      Table Bay
    082 990 5962      Bakoven
    082 990 5964      Hout Bay
    082 990 5979      Kommetjie
    082 990 5965      Simon’s Town
    082 990 6753      Strandfontein
    072 448 8482      Gordon’s Bay
    082 990 5967      Hermanus
    082 990 5952      Agulhas
    082 990 5957      Witsand
    082 990 5978      Still Bay
    082 990 5954      Mossel Bay
    082 990 5955      Wilderness
    082 990 5956      Knysna
    082 990 5975      Plettenberg Bay
    072 446 6344      Theewaterskloof Dam
    082 990 5980      Air Sea Rescue Unit


    EASTERN CAPE 

    082 990 5968      Oyster Bay
    082 990 5969      St Francis Bay
    079 916 0390      Jeffreys Bay
    082 990 0828      Port Elizabeth
    082 990 5971      Port Alfred
    082 990 5972      East London
    082 550 5430      Port St Johns


    KZN  

    082 990 5951      Port Edward
    082 990 5950      Shelly Beach
    072 652 5158      Rocky Bay
    060 305 4803      Ballito
    082 990 5948      Durban
    082 990 5949      Richards Bay


    MPUMALANGA

    060 962 2620      Witbank Dam


    GAUTENG  

    060 991 9301      Gauteng


    NORTH WEST

    082 990 5961      Hartbeespoort Dam


    FREE STATE

    072 903 9572      Vaal Dam

     


    After hours, should you require our assistance,
    please do not hesitate to call: NSRI Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) 087 094 9774

    You can download the high res pdf of the emergency numbers here

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • LinkedIn

    For COVID-19 updates, visit official government website www.sacoronavirus.co.za