Whales were snarled by fishing gear and other floating debris 76 times in U.S. waters last year.

Of those 76, six whales were confirmed dead, according to NOAA's 2017 National Large Whale Entanglement Report.

The 76 confirmed whale entanglements are on par with the 10-year average of 69.5 whales per year that are snarled, according to the report.

Most of the whales, or 49, were humpback whales. The breakdown is below:

Gray whales 7

Minke whales 7

Blue whales 3

North Atlantic Right whales 2

Fin whales 1

Sei whales 1

Unidentified whales 2

The majority of the whale entanglements, or 33, were reported in waters from Maine to Virginia, though, that doesn't mean that's where the whales picked up the gear.

"Large whales are powerful and mobile. They can tow gear with them for long, long distances, so where we observe them is not usually the place they became entangled," said Sarah Wilkin, national stranding and emergency response coordinator at NOAA Fisheries.

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There was one confirmed entanglement in New Jersey that occurred in South Jersey waters but that whale species was never identified.

Twenty-nine cases occurred on the West Coast, seven in Hawaii, five in Alaska and two in the Southeast Atlantic.

In 70 percent of the confirmed cases, the whales were entangled in fishing gear such as line and buoys, traps, monofilament line and nets.

Saving the whales

NOAA's Large Whale Entanglement Response Network, which is made up of private, non-profit and government teams, responded to 50 whales and was able to fully or partially untangle 25 of them.

Wilkin said untangling whales is an "inherently dangerous activity," and NOAA is grateful for its partners that lend their help.

A tangled humpback whale was rescued this summer in Sandy Hook Bay. That whale was last seen swimming off on its own.

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The public is encouraged to report entangled whales to NOAA's 24/7 hotline 1-877-SOS-WHALE or radio the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16. However, NOAA strongly advises against engaging the whale on your own.

NOAA reports techniques that have been developed over the last 40 years that rely on working from a small inflatable boat, with hooked knives on long poles that keep responders at a safe distance from the whale and reduce risks.

Even so, NOAA said accidents do still occur and even trained responders have been injured or killed.

Dan Radel: @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com