Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Following a rescue mission of high stakes by Spanish authorities and marine protection groups, an orca that was caught in discarded fishing equipment in the Strait of Gibraltar has been released.
A barrel, a buoy and several ropes were tightly entangled in the orca’s right pectoral. It was one of 11 whales that had been spotted near Cape Spartel hunting tuna.
The entanglement, believed to be from longline fishing gear, left the animal unable to swim freely or feed – a potentially fatal situation.
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Earlier attempts to rescue the victims were delayed by bad weather. The mission was led by Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge.
On Monday, teams mobilised to search the Strait and found the injured whale.
A specialist vessel was sent to disentangle the orca once it had been located.
Under the coordination of MITECO, the operation was conducted in strict accordance with the International Whaling Commission’s guidelines. Trained personnel took the lead.
This event was the exact reason for which the Ministry held targeted training in Malaga, Spain earlier this year.
Several organisations, including Sea Shepherd France and CIRCE along with the Civil Guard and Maritime Service participated in this mission.
This particular orca belongs to the critically monitored population that migrates through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cadiz – a group listed as vulnerable under Spanish law.
Conservation efforts are governed in many ways, including by the Spanish Catalogue of Endangered Species that prohibits approaching animals or disturbing them.
The rules prohibit boats from approaching cetaceans within 60 metres, feeding them or contaminating the water with noise or waste.
The rescue comes at the start of whale season in the Strait – a busy migratory route for marine mammals.
Although the operation to disentangle the ropes was a success, officials emphasize that prevention is also important.
Discarded fishing equipment remains one of marine life’s biggest threats, particularly in areas with heavy traffic like the Strait of Gibraltar.
Since 2017, conservation efforts have been focused on the vulnerable population of orcas in Spain.
Authorities and environmental groups are working hard to protect whales as the season begins again.
