Entangled sea creature left trapped 100 feet down off California. See rescue

A massive sea creature was trapped in a fishing net and struggling to surface for air, California officials said.

The adult gray whale, entangled in a gillnet that got caught on a rock crab trap, was “anchored in place” on the sea floor, 100 feet down off the Palos Verdes Peninsula, according to an April 16 news release by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Whale watchers reported the stuck creature on April 8, officials said.

The following day, a two-hour rescue mission ensued as the team attached a tracking buoy to the net around the whale’s tail in case the whale swam off before it was freed, rescuers said.

Team members used specialized tools to cut the gear, allowing the whale to “rapidly” swim away the first chance it got, officials said.

Headgear footage captured the moment the final piece of netting was cut and shows the whale making its escape.

Entanglement is one of the top threats for gray whales as they get trapped entirely or drag the gear with them for miles, causing fatigue, distress and the inability to feed, according to the NOAA.

“It wasn’t going anywhere because of the way the net was caught,” said Justin Viezbicke, California stranding coordinator for NOAA Fisheries and the leader of the mission. “Without our response, the chances of this whale surviving were very low.”

To report an entanglement marine mammal, the public should call 877-767-9425, rescuers said.

Palos Verdes is about a 30-mile drive southwest of downtown Los Angeles.

This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM with the headline "Entangled sea creature left trapped 100 feet down off California. See rescue."