Incidents of large whales becoming entangled in fishing gear and marine debris rose in 2024 to 95 confirmed cases, up from 64 confirmed cases recorded in 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported Sep. 18.
The news from NOAA Fisheries came with the release of its National Report on Large Whale Entanglements Confirmed in the United States in 2024. The total is “also above the average annual number of confirmed entanglements over the previous 17 years, which was 71.4,” according to an agency statement.
“We will continue to analyze data from 2024 to understand what factors contributed to the increase and whether this increase is temporary or part of a longer term trend.”
The report is compiled annually under NOAA’s mandate to report on the status of whales and other species covered under the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. Entanglements are a threat to many whale species, along with the danger of vessel strikes.
The increase in entanglements follows efforts by NOAA and commercial fishermen to reduce entanglement risk, particularly in lobster, crab and fish trap fisheries.
According to NOAA the entanglement incidents broke down primarily in waters off four states where more than 71 percent of entanglements were reported:
• 25 percent off the coast of California
• 18 percent off the coast of Massachusetts
• 16 percent off the coast of Alaska
• 12 percent off the coast of Hawai’i
