Entanglement Responses, Outcomes & Summaries

The Hawaiian Islands Disentanglement Network has grown since its inception in 2002, and now comprises over 230 participants who have received different levels of training in order to support disentanglement efforts statewide. In addition, the network now has 5 full caches of specialized equipment strategically distributed throughout the state.

Since 2002, the network has mounted over 70 on-water responses to entangled whales. There have been more than 83 confirmed reports, representing at least 63 different animals. The network has mounted more than 100 on-water or in-air responses. To date, 15 animals have been freed of all or significant amounts of gear, 13 animals were not candidates for disentanglement (not life threatening entanglements or too far offshore to respond), 29 animals were never relocated.

	Sanctuary staff freeing a humpback whale off Oahu.
	HIHWNMS, MMHSRP Permit #932-1905

While disentanglement may help save some of these magnificent animals, it is not the long-term answer. We cannot cut every entangled whale free. The value of disentanglement is that it provides information that might help managers, fishermen and other ocean users with the ultimate goal of lowering or at least mitigating the entanglement risk to large whales.


Explanation of Gear Removed

The network has removed approximately 6700 feet of line (greater than 3/8" diameter, does not include netting and twine) from 16 different humpback whales. Animals have been confirmed entangled in local fishing gear (traps and net), mooring gear, marine debris, and actively fished gear set as far away as Alaska.

	HIHWNMS, MMHSRP Permit #932-1905

More than 30 sets of gear have been identified through the network's response efforts to better understand what Hawaii's humpback whales are getting entangled in and where the gear is coming from. While nearly half of the gear documented entangling whales or gear that was recovered cannot be identified, the majority that is identified end up being trap gear (e.g. crab, fish, shrimp). To date more than 16 sets of gear have been identified as trap gear, most of which have been set off Alaska. The greatest straightline known thus far is 2,450 nm.

Rescue Season Summaries

Find out more detailed information about rescues from the following years:

2010-2011 Rescue Season Summary

2009-2010 Rescue Season Summary

2008-2009 Rescue Season Summary

2007-2008 Rescue Season Summary

2006-2007 Rescue Season Summary

2005-2006 Rescue Season Summary

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