IF YOU SEE AN ENTANGLED WHALE OR MARINE MAMMAL, PLEASE CALL THE NOAA DISENTANGLEMENT HOTLINE AT 877-SOS-WHALE (877-767-9425)
The public should report all sightings of entangled marine mammals so trained and authorized responders can safely respond.
Equal parts heart-wrenching and hopeful, Island Packers’ first summer whale watching excursion aboard Island Explorer on June 19, 2025 turned into a coordinated marine mammal response effort when the captain, crew and passengers spotted a young entangled humpback whale in the southbound shipping lanes off of east end of Santa Cruz Island.
The Discovery
Just after noon Captain Paige Knowles, along with Garrett Smith, mate and photographer, Maria Martone, naturalist and Island Packers’ crew, and Lotti Keenan, wildlife photographer/passenger, came across the juvenile humpback whale wrapped in what appeared to be gill netting. The entanglement was severe, tangled around the head, right pectoral fin, and the corner of its right tail fluke. Paige immediately contacted Dave Beezer, NOAA’s local point person for entangled whales, and reported the whale’s condition and exact location.
Garrett and Lotti captured critical documentation of the entanglement with a series of clear, close-range photos, helping inform the responding team while Paige recalls her experience.
“The first summer whale watch of the season was shaping up to be pretty successful as we came upon several thousand dolphins and 8-10 humpbacks feeding in the Southbound shipping lane. We noticed a breaching whale a few hundred yards away and went over to take a look, in hopes that it would continue to be active when we got over to it, which, in fact it was. When first seeing the whale breach, up close, I thought I noticed something trailing off the top of its head but then, thought it may have just been the way the water was spraying as it twirled through the air. We watched it breach several more times seeing the same “spray” pattern. Then it began spinning its body, while pec slapping, on the surface. This is when we noticed the net on one of its pectoral fins and then again around its mouth when it breached again. Initially, the green translucent gill net was blending in with the sea spray. I immediately contacted Dave Beezer and he initiated a response team. After going home, I was so relieved when comparing all the unique markings of the whale that were documented in the photos, time stamped from the initial finding to the happy ending. What a great network of caring whale enthusiasts we have and what a great example of how photo ID plays such an important role in monitoring the health of these whales.” Island Packers Captain and Fleet Manager, Paige Knowles
The Response Mobilizes
By 1:45 PM, Capt. Eric from Vessel Assist Tow Boat U.S. arrived in a smaller craft to relieve the Island Explorer and monitor the whale. At 2:30 PM, the larger Vessel Assist boat Channel Sentinel departed Ventura Harbor carrying a seasoned response team: Capt. Carson, Paul Amaral, Dave Beezer, Jim Knowlton (Blue Ocean Productions), and Holly Lohuis, Co-Director of Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area and naturalist/crew with Island Packers.
They reached the scene by 3:15 PM. On arrival, Holly managed to capture essential tail ID photos while Jim flew the drone to assess the whale’s condition.
A Widespread Search
To everyone’s relief, the team was able to confirm that three humpbacks in the immediate area were free of gear. While at least two more whales were spotted further to the east and west, none appeared entangled. The scene was vibrant—over 300 long-beaked common dolphins feeding in a frenzy nearby, reminding everyone of the richness of these waters.
By 5:15 PM, with no further signs of entanglement and daylight fading, the Channel Sentinel began its return to Ventura Harbor.
A Hopeful Ending
Once ashore, Garrett and Lotti shared additional photos with land-based whale photographer Mark O’Brien, a major contributor to the Happywhale ID database. Together with images from the day, Mark confirmed that this young whale was not in the database yet; likely a juvenile and now first photographed by Lotti Keenan and Garrett Smith.
There was more good news: After closely reviewing and comparing all the photos and timestamps, it was clear that Lotti and Garrett had an almost complete documentation of the whale freeing itself from all the netting.
Mark and team noted a distinct white mark on the upper right tail fluke from both the entangled whale and freed whale and they all believed, based on the photos and the whale’s behavior of frequent breaching, pec slapping, and tail lobbing, it had successfully freed itself from the gear and is now swimming free!
Reality of Increase of Entangled Humpback Whales
Over the past decade, the increasing rebound of humpback whales along the West Coast has coincided with a sharp rise in entanglements in fishing gear. Across California, Oregon, and Washington, confirmed entanglements hit a six‑year high with 36 cases in 2024. NOAA’s 2024 West Coast Whale Entanglement Summary highlights the fact that humpback whales continue to be the most common species entangled in fishing gear.
While the challenges are real, there is great hope in the growing collaboration between scientists, fishers, policymakers, whale watching companies and conservationists working together to develop innovative solutions that protect both marine life and coastal livelihoods.
By working together, our goals at Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area are to inspire public connection to whales and dolphins, support sustainable marine tourism, advance collaborative science and education, and ensure that the Santa Barbara Channel remains a thriving habitat for whales and future generations.
Gratitude and Next Steps
This day’s success was the result of one whale’s determination to free itself. The documentation is thanks to quick thinking, expert coordination, and a shared passion for protecting marine life.
Huge thanks to the entire response team, from boat captains and crew, and photographers to the land-based support that made this outcome possible. Every sighting, photo, and bit of data helps inform the public and scientists on how best to protect the wild lives that call our ocean home.
UPDATE as of June 28, 2025
This individual young humpback whale is new the Happywhale database. Since Captain Paige was the first to see the entangled whale, she was given the honor to name the whale.
We are all keeping our eyes out for this special whale, hoping one of the responsible tour operators sees this whale again soon.
More photos from Lotti Keenan aboard Island Packers’ Island Explorer.