CHATHAM, MASS. (WHDH) - Officials were on hand to disentangle a young humpback whale off the coast of Chatham on Friday.
Boaters found the whale early in the afternoon and called the Coast Guard, which contacted the Center for Coastal Studies Marine Animal Entanglement Response (MAER) team.
The MAER team was joined by trainees from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Officials say a small whale was anchored in fishing gear with a line through its mouth. The line was attached to heavy gear on the sea floor.
Crews were able to cut a portion of the rope, allowing the whale to pull off the remaining rope.
The whale then sped away quickly, which officials said was a good sign.
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