An adult humpback whale recently reported entangled off Maui remains entangled. The whale tracked off Maui over the weekend presented a very difficult entanglement. The configurations of gear and ocean conditions were challenging.

The animal was reported by the tour vessel Cane Fire on Sunday morning, February 17.

A trained team of responders, coordinated by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and authorized under NOAA’s Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, mounted a two-day effort to free the animal. After attempts to disentangle the whale, a final action was taken to cut the whale free of gear.

While some gear was removed, including the entangling buoy, the animal remains entangled. The gear recovered will provide information about where it is from, helping to mitigate future threats. Responders must always weigh the risk to personnel and potential further harm to the entangled whale. If the entangled whale is located again, the network is prepared to respond.

If sighting an entangled whale, including this one, people should not try to free the animal themselves. Trying to free a 40-ton, 45-foot whale is extremely dangerous, hence requiring authorization. Instead, please call the NOAA Hotline (888-256-9840) or the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16.