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The sperm whale that washed up on the island of Raasay entangled in ropes died on Monday, March 3. This is just the most recent occurrence of whale entanglements off the Scottish coast in the last few months.
This 15m (49ft) long sperm whale was spotted off Skye Feb 27, entangled in ropes, some of which trailed up to 20m (66ft) behind it.
On Saturday, March 1 Volunteers from wildlife charity 'British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR)' were able to reach the whale in a small boat, where they were able to free it of 5 ropes, though more remained wrapped around its head.
On Monday it was discovered stranded on the shoreline of Raasay, a small island off Skye's east coast, rope wrapped tightly around it's mouth, preventing it from feeding and likely causing it to have been malnourished for some times, according to BDMLR.
They had hoped that after they freed it of the ropes that the whale would return to sea on the rising tide, but instead passed away later on Monday, taking one last breath moments after finally being freed.
Entanglements
Six Humpbacks are estimated to be involved in entanglements in Scottish waters each year
30 The approximate number of minke whales involved in the same type of incidents annually
83% Of reported minke incidents, and 50% of humpback, involved creel lines
Source: Estimates of humpback and minke whale entanglements in the Scottish static pot (creel) fishery
Are more whales getting entangled?
Since Christmas, the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (Sea) has recorded five humpback entanglements (one of which died)- in addition to the incident involving the sperm whale.
Of the others one was disentangled by BDMLR, two were freed by fishermen and one had no material on it but it did have scars on it suggesting it had been involved in a serious entanglement.
BDMLR's co-ordinator Ellie MacLennan said: "It's unusual to see this number over such a short space of time."
Can entanglements be prevented?
The entanglement alliance has been working with the inshore fishing industry for years to raise awareness. In addition to working with the fishing industry to help find possible solutions, it encourages members of the industry to report incidents and provides workshops to help inform them of how they can assist in disentanglements.
Ms MacLennan said: "These animals can pose a financial threat to fishers if these whales take off with their gear or damage their gear."
Whales can become caught in rope that runs between shellfish creels on the seabed to a buoy on the surface.
Trials have been done using "ropeless creels" which have the main line is contained in a vessel along with a buoy and lowered to the seabed with the creels. The buoy is released electronically and rises to the surface, bringing the rope with it when they need to be retrieved.
The technology was developed initially for fisheries in the US and Canada where endangered North Atlantic right whales have died in entanglements.
Source: Steven McKenzie & Jennifer Bowey BBC Scotland News (March 7, 2025) Why are whales getting tangled up in ropes?
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