Humpback whale entangled in fishing gear near San Pedro

Biologists are attempting to rescue a humpback whale found entangled in commercial fishing gear off the coast of San Pedro, California. The whale was first spotted near Palos Verdes by passengers on a whale watching tour on October 1.

Wildlife experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center attempted to remove the net and attach a satellite tracking tag, but efforts were hindered by choppy water and the whale’s behavior. This specific whale had previously been sighted in August and September off the coasts of Humboldt County and San Luis Obispo without entanglement.

The incident follows a NOAA report stating that 76 cases of large whale entanglements in castoff lines and nets were recorded off U.S. coasts in 2025. Fishing gear accounted for 46% of those cases, and California accounted for nearly 27% of all entanglements in the country.