Fish farmers seek to free entangled whale
Normal operations suspended and specialist divers called to Organic Sea Harvest site
Salmon farmer Organic Sea Harvest (OSH) has suspended normal farming operations at its Invertote site off the northeast cost of Skye and is focused on trying to free a humpback whale that became entangled in underwater mooring lines this morning.
OSH said in a statement that the Scottish Government and other relevant agencies were notified immediately, and expert marine mammal divers from the British Divers Marine Life Rescue are on site.
“Marine mammals, including dolphins and whales, are a common sight near salmon farms, but it is extremely rare for them to come into contact with our sites,” said OSH.
Doing everything possible
“We understand this is a worrying situation, and we want to assure everyone that we are doing everything possible to help the whale.
"Our team is fully focused on securing the best possible outcome. We will continue to provide updates as the rescue operation progresses.”
The Scottish Entanglement Alliance - a collaboration between NatureScot, the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme, Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, and the Scottish Association for Marine Science - estimates that around 30 minke whales and six humpback whales become entangled in Scottish waters each year, in fishing gear. However, whale entanglements with fish farms are almost unheard of.
