Recent sightings of a dead orca tangled in crabbing gear have spurred a public awareness campaign across Oregon.
The state Department of Fish and Wildlife says their agency and Oregon State University have examined gear taken from the mammal’s carcass, after its most recent appearance near the mouth of the Coquille River July 7th.
A marine resources program manager says the gear wasn’t marked with the owner’s name, per Oregon regulations. Gear also has to have either an address, phone number, ODFW ID number, or vessel ID number.
The gear wrapped around the orca also had a sport-type crab pot, and was recently deployed. It’s unknown if the orca died before or after becoming entangled.
In a press release, the ODFW says "recreational crab pots or rings used in the open ocean water and bays must have surface buoys for buoyancy so the gear can be retrieved. By regulation, the buoys must be marked with the owners first and last name or business name and at least one of the following: permanent address, phone number, ODFW ID number or vessel identification number. The information must be visible, legible, and permanent. This regulation does not apply to recreational crabbing from piers, jetties, or the beach where the pot is attached to shore while it is fishing.
"Marked surface buoys help managers identify which fisheries and areas along the coast are associated with marine life entanglements. More importantly, proper marking of buoys and floats helps managers develop ways to prevent entanglements in the future."
More information can be found on the ODFW’s marine life entanglement website.
Report entangled whales or other marine animals to NOAA Fisheries’ Entanglement Reporting Hotline 1-877-SOS-WHAL (1-877-767-9425) or the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF CH-16. Photographs and videos showing entangled gear is helpful as is a general location and species if known. Check NOAA Fisheries entangled whale reporting brochure for more information.
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