North Atlantic right whale no. 1218, an adult male nicknamed Argo, is swimming freely after responders removed lobster pots and commercial fishing rope tangled around the tail of the school bus-sized animal. Georgia Department of Natural Resource biologists were key to the effort that took place off the coast of North Carolina from Jan. 27-29.
Many of the same responders helped free another right whale, “Nimbus,” off the Georgia coast on Jan. 20.
North Atlantic right whales are highly endangered with fewer than 350 remaining. They come to the waters off Georgia and Florida to give birth in the winter. Only about 75 adult females remain and they can only give birth every two to three years. So far this calving season 11 mother/calf pairs have been spotted, most of them off the coast of Georgia. Another calf was found dead in North Carolina.
Entanglement in commercial fishing rope – like that used in lobster, snow crab and other fixed-gear fisheries – is the leading threat to the species, along with injuries from vessel strikes. Disentangling them is a last-ditch response to conservation.
“The only solution for this species to turn the corner and resume recovery is to stop human-caused mortality,” said Georgia DNR Marine Mammal Coordinator Clay George, who helped in both of the January disentanglement efforts.
It’s clear in the video below that dragging the rope and gear seriously injured Argo. It’s uncertain he’ll survive. As of Feb. 7, the whale hadn’t been seen again.
Entangled right whale “Argo” off the coast of North Carolina on Jan. 27, 2023. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
Heavy fishing rope wrapped around and dug into Argo’s tail, with lobster pots trailing behind. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
A Duke University Marine Lab crew reaches Argo Jan. 27 but is unable to attach a satellite tracking buoy due to limited daylight. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 
The crew successfully lobs a grapple across the half-inch thick fishing rope the whale is trailing and attaches a tracking buoy and an orange marker buoy to the rope. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
“Argo” demonstrates the characteristic V-shaped spout of a right whale. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
Responders attach a tracking buoy and assess Argo’s entanglement. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
Researchers approach the entangled adult right whale nicknamed “Argo” to attach a tracking buoy. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
Before Argo was seen off North Carolina he was last sighted in May, swimming freely. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
Researchers approach Argo to attach a tracking buoy on Jan. 28. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
The V-shaped spout is characteristic of right whales. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute 
Georgia DNR Senior Biologist Mark Dodd reaches with a pole-mounted knife to cut thick fishing ropes from the entangled whale. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 
Rescuers approach entangled right whale Argo off North Carolina. Photo taken under NOAA permit #24359 Credit: Duke