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NOAA ATTEMPTS RESCUE OF RIGHT WHALE

May 28, 1999 — Last weekend NOAA scientists initiated a dramatic rescue attempt on a northern right whale that was dangerously entangled in commercial fishing gear. The whale was spotted by the crew of a NOAA survey aircraft which set into motion a chain of events that will hopefully lead to the rescue of the animal. The northern right whale is a highly endangered species with only about 300 remaining out of a population that once numbered in the tens of thousands. The loss of even a single healthy adult can deal a serious blow to the genetic diversity of the species. Therefore, the decision was made to initiate the daunting task of rescuing the entangled whale.

The whale was spotted by a NOAA Twin Otter aircraft (call sign "NOAA 48") that was conducting a marine mammal aerial survey for the Right Whale Sighting Advisory System, a program administered by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Regional Office. The survey crew consisted of NOAA Corps pilots Lt. John Longenecker and Lt. Mark Moran, chief scientist Patricia Gerrior, and observers Kimberly Marks and Renee DeVito. The aircraft was operating in the Great South Channel approximately 65nm (nautical miles) east of Nantucket, Mass., when it encountered the troubled whale. This was the third entangled right whale sighted by the Sighting Advisory System (SAS) survey team within the span of 10 days. Unfortunately, the previous two whales were spotted too late in the day to mount a rescue effort. This one, however, was spotted early enough to permit a rescue attempt.

The first stage of this effort would require personnel from the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) to attach an Argos satellite tracking beacon to the whale. A plan was set in motion to transport the team to the closest Coast Guard vessel, the 210' Cutter Diligence (approximately 60nm from the whale) that would serve as the base of operations. During this time, NOAA 48 maintained visual contact with the entangled whale. This proved to be no easy task since the whale was spending very little time on the surface between dives that lasted from 10-15 minutes each.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., NOAA 48 was relieved on scene by a NOAA contract aircraft (a Grumman Widgeon, call sign 92 Lima). This allowed NOAA 48 to dash to Nantucket to refuel. NOAA 48 returned to the scene at 3:45 p.m. and relieved 92 Lima. Simultaneously, a Coast Guard HH-60J helicopter transported the CCS rescue personnel from Provincetown, Mass., to the Diligence which was now 12nm south of the whale.

The SAS survey team maintained visual contact with the whale while vectoring the Diligence to it's location. At approximately 5:00 p.m., the Diligence was on scene and had lowered an 18' rigid hull inflatable (RHI) boat that would serve as the chase craft. At the request of the disentanglement team, NOAA 48 continued to circle overhead and act as a spotter for the RHI. Unfortunately, the whale proved to be very elusive and after several failed attempts to attach the satellite beacon the effort was postponed due to darkness. At approximately 8:30 p.m., NOAA 48 was released and returned to base at CGAS Cape Cod arriving there at approximately 9:00 p.m. after nearly 12 hours in the air.

The following morning the whale was resighted, and using lessons learned from the previous day's activities, the satellite tag was successfully secured to the whale at approximately 8:15 a.m. This will enable rescuers to intercept the whale later this week with specially equipped vessels and trained personnel who will attempt to disentangle the whale. NOAA 48 will continue to support the Right Whale Sighting Advisory System while continuing the search for the other two entangled whales.

 

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