Nearly 100 whales were entangled in fishing lines last year, the highest number in five years, according to a new report from NOAA. The findings highlight risks whales face from commercial fishing gear even as fishers test new gear to curb the threat.
The report found 95 confirmed cases of large whales entangled in U.S. waters in 2024, up from 64 for the year prior. The total likely underestimates the problem, as many cases go unreported or cannot be confirmed. Of those cases, 92 percent were live whales, though a few later died as the animals often carried gear for long periods of time before rescue or death.
Humpback whales were most frequently entangled species due to their growing population along the coasts. But the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale, with only 370 individuals remaining, was also caught.
Most entanglements occurred off the coast of four states: California, Massachusetts, Alaska and Hawaii. Together, those states accounted for over 70 percent of live cases. California led with 25 percent of entanglements, followed by Massachusetts with 18 percent. Both states have active lobster and crab fisheries that deploy thousands of vertical trap lines in coastal waters.
