Whale Entangled in Fishing Net Sparks Alarm Off Southern California Coast

Officials and wildlife experts are raising alarms following the sighting of a humpback whale entangled in heavy commercial fishing gear off the coast of Southern California. The distressed animal was observed near the Palos Verdes area by passengers aboard a Harbor Breeze whale-watching tour last Thursday.

According to Harbor Breeze, the entanglement prevents the whale from moving freely, hindering its ability to feed and surface for air. The company stated that while all ocean litter is dangerous, commercial fishing gear is a frequent cause of marine life mortality. "Because of this entanglement, this whale is not able to move freely, cannot feed, and can even have trouble getting to the surface to breathe," Harbor Breeze said in a social media post.

Wildlife experts attempted to free the whale but were unsuccessful due to challenging water and weather conditions. Efforts to attach a satellite tracking tag were also hampered.

"The team made multiple attempts to reach the trailing gear, but the whale’s behavior and water and weather conditions hampered their efforts," said Sarah Mesnick, a biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Southwest Fisheries Science Center, to KTLA. "They also attempted to put on a satellite tracking tag, but similarly, conditions hampered their efforts."

This sighting follows previous observations of the same whale earlier in the year. It was seen without a net off the coast of Humboldt County on August 22 and near San Luis Obispo on September 20.

NOAA reported 76 entanglements involving large whales along U.S. coasts in 2025, with humpback whales accounting for 65 of those cases. California was responsible for 27.6% of reported entanglements, while Alaska accounted for 23.7%.

Individuals who encounter an entangled whale are urged to contact NOAA at 877-SOS-WHALE (877-767-9425).