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A team from the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) untangled a young humpback whale off the coast of Massachusetts. The whale was caught in fishing gear in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary east of Boston between Cape Ann and Cape Cod.

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Email address Thank you! By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. A team from the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) untangled a young humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) off the coast of Massachusetts. The whale was caught in fishing gear in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary east of Boston between Cape Ann and Cape Cod. Stellwagen Bank is a hotspot for humpbacks and other whales, who feed on the plentiful plankton and fish in the bank’s rich waters during the spring and summer. The whale was freed by CCS’ Marine Animal Entanglement Response (MAER) team, who is trained to safely disentangle whales. CCS has freed over 200 large whales and other marine life from entanglements since 1984. Recreational boaters in the area reported a relatively small whale struggling in the gear’s buoy line. Once the MAER team was on the scene, they found the humpback with ropes wrapped around the base of its tale. The ropes were essentially keeping the whale...