2022 Koholā (Whale) Season
Entangled adult male humpback freed of gear off Maui
March 16, 2022
On Tuesday, March 15, 2022, a NOAA-led team of trained responders freed an entangled male humpback whale just outside Maʻalaea, Maui, in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The adult animal had a life-threatening entanglement of heavy gauge line wrapped tightly around his head in front of his pectoral flippers, which would prevent feeding. The location of the entanglement, and size and type of line (a poly blend), meant that the animal would likely not be able to free itself.