From responding to entangled whales to collecting vital research data in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, our team works to protect marine mammals and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.
Whale Entanglement Team
The Whale Entanglement Team (WET)® saving whales one at a time.
Here’s our poster for the 25th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Perth, Western Australia! You can download the PDF by clicking the link below. We’re thrilled to be traveling and presenting our comprehensive approach to reducing whale entanglements.
Peggy Stap & Stephanie Marcos
Peggy Stap & Stephanie Marcos are level 3 Whale rescuers under the marine mammal health and stranding response program permit. they are 2 of 4 level 3 women in the state of california.
“Whale Disentanglement Ambulance”
The local and global economy has benefited greatly from the fishing industry in the last century. The fallout of this booming business are the creatures of the sea: whales, sea turtles, and dolphins who, during their journeys in the sea, find themselves tangled in fisheries like discarded nets and lines. These animals get entangled and have no real way of freeing themselves, often dragging the gear with them for miles. Sometimes the gear becomes anchored to the sea floor, impeding the whale from swimming and feeding. This is basically a death sentence for marine life, but that’s where we come in.
We established the Whale Entanglement Team (WET)®, a group of trained individuals to rescue whales from a slow, painful death due to life-threatening entanglements. Our Whale Rescue Research Vessel, R/V Current’Sea, is fully equipped with all the necessary tools for a complete disentanglement response. This “whale disentanglement ambulance” has been critical to our success in saving whales every year.
Our whale disentanglement ambulance is the only one of its kind on the west coast of the United States. This wouldn’t be possible without our generous and passionate donors.
"Marine Life Studies has been doing whale rescue for over 10 years. Their new project for entanglement prevention removes derelict fishing gear off the seafloor. Given their success with establishing the Whale Entanglement Team (WET)®, I think this is an excellent project and I highly support it."
- Bob Talbot, Filmmaker and Emeritus Board Director of the National Marine Sanctuary
Whale Rescues & Responses
Whale disentanglement featured on the PBS and BBC BIG BLUE LIVE, August 2015.
How you can help!
Prompt reporting is the best way to help the distressed animal. Standing by until responders can arrive is vital. Standing by is so important to keep track of the animal. It is a big ocean out there and without someone standing by to help direct responders the chances of saving that whale is greatly reduced. If not able to standby, it is so valuable to get the exact location (latitude and longitude if possible), direction of travel, and description of gear (color of buoys, etc.). If possible take photos and/or video of the animal but please do not approach to animal - stay at least 100 to 150 yards away.
Ocean users play an important role in efforts to save whales in distress from pain, deformity, and death. Please report injured, entangled, and ship-struck whale concerns to the 24/7 hotline at (877) SOS-WHALE (767-9425) or hail the U.S. Coast Guard on VHF CH-16.
Support WET® - Donate Today!
Immediate needs:
- Funds for fuel - Whale Rescue is Costly!
- 2 - 5TB Lacie portable hard drives ($600)
- Personal Protective Equipment for crew
- ACR Relink personal locator beacons, Gumby survival suits ($5,000)
Please consider setting up an automatic monthly recurring donation.
Actress and activist Amber Valletta joins the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, California, September 26 – 28, 2012 to raise awareness of entangled whales in California. Marine Life Studies and Fluke Foundation were instrumental in formalizing the Whale Entanglement Team known as WET® to disentangle whales from marine debris and fishing gear. The PSA by IFAW will air throughout California.
New Public Service Announcement by IFAW:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW
All donations are tax deductible.
Please call (877) SOS-WHALE immediately to report an entangled whale, dolphin or other marine mammal.
To donate by check please make payable to Marine Life Studies with WET® on the memo line and send to:
PO Box 163, Moss Landing, CA 95039
Some photos taken under the NOAA Fisheries Marine Mammal Health and
Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) permit #932-1905, #932-1489, 18786.
