June 2025
When a young koholā (humpback whale) was found entangled off Maui's coast in 2017, its chances of survival seemed slim. Wrapped in hundreds of feet of heavy coaxial cable, the animal was anchored in place, struggling to breathe. Thanks to a swift and coordinated response by a dedicated team of trained experts, the whale was freed. Seven years later, that same whale—now a healthy adult—was spotted again, gliding through Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary with no sign of injury. Its return is more than a remarkable survival story—it's a powerful reminder of what's possible when science, community, and compassion come together to protect life in the ocean.
Each winter and spring, humpback whales journey over 3,000 miles to the warm, sheltered waters of Hawai‘i. Here, they mate, give birth, and nurture their calves until they're strong enough to make the long voyage back to their nutrient-rich feeding grounds in the north. But the path across the Pacific is far from safe. One of the greatest threats these majestic creatures face is entanglement—becoming ensnared in fishing lines, nets, and increasingly, marine debris. For whales, even a single strand of gear can mean the difference between life and death.
Ed Lyman, the Large Whale Entanglement Response coordinator with Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, knows this better than most. Nearing the end of his 15th whale season, he had already helped free 24 whales from life-threatening entanglements when he received a distressing report.
A juvenile whale was in trouble—it was weighted down by debris, wrapped in a thick braided line running from its mouth, struggling to surface for air. Frantic and evasive, the whale made it difficult for the rescue team to get close. The sanctuary led a multi-partner effort involving tour operators, scientists, ocean safety, and trained responders in a coordinated response to free the whale. But what they discovered shocked the team entirely.
“It was the first time we had ever seen a humpback whale entangled in cable,” said Lyman.
Despite their disbelief, the team carefully removed more than 800 feet of ⅝-inch coaxial cable from the whale. Sadly, some of the cable was deeply embedded in the whale's mouth and could not be safely removed.
An Incredible Recovery
Seven years later, a whale was sighted off the coast of Maui, remarkably close to where Lyman and others had responded to the juvenile whale entangled in cables. Thanks to a photo of its fluke uploaded to Happywhale.com by a member of the public, sanctuary researchers confirmed the incredible news: it was the same whale that was freed years ago. Now a healthy adult, the whale showed no signs of injury, no remaining gear, and no visible wounds. It had survived.
This powerful story of one whale's recovery serves as a rallying call for broader collaborative efforts to protect marine life across our ocean. Since these whales migrate across vast distances, there is a great need for coordinated monitoring and response efforts throughout the North Pacific and beyond.
Scientists and responders work together to develop innovative technology and new methods to protect these iconic creatures.
Hawaiian Islands Large Whale Entanglement Response Network
NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the state of Hawai‘i's Division of Aquatic Resources jointly manage Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to protect humpback whales and their habitat across 1,370 square miles of nearshore waters throughout the main Hawaiian Islands. Humpback whales migrate to Hawai'i in the winter and spring to mate, give birth, and raise their calves until they are strong enough to make the almost 3,000 mile journey back to their high-latitude feeding grounds.
Ed Lyman and Maria Harvey coordinate community-based whale rescue efforts throughout the Hawaiian Islands through the Large Whale Entanglement Response Network. The Hawaii whale rescue network works to free humpback whales and other marine animals from life-threatening entanglements, and encompasses more than 350 members with over 700 hours of training that supports large whale response statewide. Many state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, fishermen, researchers, and other members of the on-water community work together to save whales and gather valuable information that will help mitigate the broad-based issue of entanglement and its impacts into the future.
Since 2022, the Hawai'i network has freed 44 large whales from life-threatening entanglements, removing more than 15,690 feet of line and netting.
The 2024–2025 humpback whale season (December 1, 2024 – May 1, 2025) was the network's 23rd season, and the busiest to date. There were 32 confirmed reports of 16 entangled whales. There were 17 on-water responses mounted to seven animals over an extremely busy three month period. This unprecedented level of activity highlights the ongoing need for intervention and the dedication of the response network in Hawaiʻi.
Innovative Technology and Response Methods
Saving entangled whales is a complex and often dangerous task that demands constant innovation to mitigate risks to animals and authorized responders. Unlike small marine animals like dolphins, seals, and turtles, humpback whales can weigh up to 40 tons and move unpredictably, making disentanglement a high-risk operation that requires specialized tools, techniques, and training. Sanctuary teams have developed innovative approaches such as custom-designed cutting tools, tracking devices to follow an entangled whale's movements, and drones to get a clear view of the entanglement from a safe distance.
Innovation also extends to data sharing and community engagement, where real-time reporting and cross-agency coordination enhance response speed and effectiveness. As shifting ocean conditions alter whale behavior and migration patterns, continued innovation is essential to not only keep up with new challenges, but to stay ahead of them.
Collective Action of Hawaiʻi's On-Water Community
Protecting whales in Hawaiʻi means more than responding to entanglements; it involves proactive partnerships among fishers, whale watching tour operators, marine scientists, and the local community. Fishers play a key role in helping Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary identify derelict gear or marine debris, while tour boat operators act as eyes on the water, often spotting distressed animals before anyone else. When the community unites, combining place-based knowledge with marine science research and monitoring, it strengthens our collective capacity to respond to environmental threats, protect cultural values, and sustain an economy rooted in respect for the ocean. This kind of ocean stewardship reinforces the resilience of island communities in the face of ongoing ecological change.
If You See an Entangled Whale
If you see an entangled whale, maintain a distance of at least 100 yards, obtain photos or videos, and immediately call the NOAA Fisheries' Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840. If unable to call, please radio the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF CH. 16, and they will relay the report. Do not approach closely or attempt to free the animal. While well-intentioned, freeing a 40-ton whale is extremely dangerous for the animal and the would-be rescuer. Only highly-trained and well-equipped responders that are authorized under NOAA Fisheries' Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program are permitted to conduct an entangled whale response.
The best way to help an entangled whale and keep people safe, is to provide authorized responders with the opportunity to respond. If able and safe, you may be asked to monitor the animal from a legal distance of 100 yards or more until the response team arrives. The Hawaiʻi Response Network has freed more than 40 large whales from life-threatening entanglements over the past 23 years.
Catherine Takata-Tonini is a policy and planning specialist for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and supports the Pacific Islands Region Communications Team
Ed Lyman is the Large Whale Entanglement Response coordinator with Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary
Rachel Plunkett is the content manager and senior writer/editor for NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries