Humpback Whale ‘Pop Tart’ Freed After Entanglement off British Columbia

A humpback whale known as “Pop Tart” was found tangled in about 98 feet of fishing rope off Victoria, British Columbia on July 2. The Pacific Whale Watch Association reported that the whale, a favorite in the Salish Sea, was later monitored by crews from British Columbia and Washington, with Fisheries and Oceans Canada deploying a Marine Mammal Response Team.

Coordinated efforts by whale‑watching vessels, including Orca Spirit Adventures, Prince of Whales and Eagle Wing Tours, kept visual contact despite fog and rough weather. Drone footage captured the rope around the whale’s pectoral fin, and a tracking buoy was attached to the gear. On July 8 the whale was spotted near Race Rocks, fully disentangled and swimming freely.

The operation highlights the serious danger of marine‑animal entanglement and the value of cross‑border collaboration between Canadian and U.S. responders and local tourism operators.