Lobstah Slayah
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BISCAYNE BAY (CBS4) ―
Helicopters track a Humpback whale off Key Biscayne, near Miami
There's an unusual sight off the coast of South Florida. A humpback whale, possibly in distress, has been spotted off Bear Cut in Biscayne Bay.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, they received a call about the whale which may be entangled in a rope with an anchor or grappling hook attached to it.
The Coast Guard, along with a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Boat, are already in the vicinity of the whale. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration biologist is heading to the scene.
"NOAA is sending a biologist to take photographs and access the condition of the animal," said Liz Crapo, spokeswoman for NOAA Fisheries Service.
This may be the same whale that NOAA was following last week off St. Lucie County. At that time, the adult humpback whale had a rope wrapped around its head and dangling from the rope was a large anchor or grappling hook, according to a charter captain who spotted the whale. The adult whale wasn't alone. There was also a calf.
"I would say it's very rare to see them this far south," said Jamison Smith, a disentanglement coordinator for NOAA Fisheries. "Right now, we have a crew to confirm that it is an entangled animal."
Smith said once the rescuers can get to the whale they will attach a satellite tag to it. He said rescuers might be limited to what they can do.
"They're looking to verify and assess the animal's condition. Unfortunately it tapers off as too what they're able to do and authorized to do based on level of experience, equipment available and behavior and environmental conditions," Smith told CBS4.com.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard and Border Patrol assisted in the Port St. Lucie sighting but the FWC called off any rescue attempt due to unsteady sea conditions and a lack of qualified personnel trained in handling a whale in distress.
For more information about humpback whales, click here.
Anyone who spots an endangered marine mammal in distress is asked to report it to the NOAA hotline at 1-866-755-NOAA (6622).
CBS4's Jasmine Kripalani contributed to this report.
BISCAYNE BAY (CBS4) ―
Helicopters track a Humpback whale off Key Biscayne, near Miami
There's an unusual sight off the coast of South Florida. A humpback whale, possibly in distress, has been spotted off Bear Cut in Biscayne Bay.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, they received a call about the whale which may be entangled in a rope with an anchor or grappling hook attached to it.
The Coast Guard, along with a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Boat, are already in the vicinity of the whale. A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration biologist is heading to the scene.
"NOAA is sending a biologist to take photographs and access the condition of the animal," said Liz Crapo, spokeswoman for NOAA Fisheries Service.
This may be the same whale that NOAA was following last week off St. Lucie County. At that time, the adult humpback whale had a rope wrapped around its head and dangling from the rope was a large anchor or grappling hook, according to a charter captain who spotted the whale. The adult whale wasn't alone. There was also a calf.
"I would say it's very rare to see them this far south," said Jamison Smith, a disentanglement coordinator for NOAA Fisheries. "Right now, we have a crew to confirm that it is an entangled animal."
Smith said once the rescuers can get to the whale they will attach a satellite tag to it. He said rescuers might be limited to what they can do.
"They're looking to verify and assess the animal's condition. Unfortunately it tapers off as too what they're able to do and authorized to do based on level of experience, equipment available and behavior and environmental conditions," Smith told CBS4.com.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the U.S. Coast Guard and Border Patrol assisted in the Port St. Lucie sighting but the FWC called off any rescue attempt due to unsteady sea conditions and a lack of qualified personnel trained in handling a whale in distress.
For more information about humpback whales, click here.
Anyone who spots an endangered marine mammal in distress is asked to report it to the NOAA hotline at 1-866-755-NOAA (6622).
CBS4's Jasmine Kripalani contributed to this report.