Sperm Whale Entangled in Net Rescued off Italian Coast

Coast Guard: "A net was tangled on the whale's fin, preventing it from moving"

A whale with its tail entangled in a net off the coast of Italy was saved by the coast guard. Photo by Sergio Costa, captured from the Facebook page of the Italian Minister of the Environment.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A whale entangled by its tail in a net off the coast of Italy was saved with the help of the coast guard.

On the 28th (local time), Sergio Costa, Italy's Minister of the Environment, announced on his Facebook that a sperm whale had been rescued.

Italian local media, including IL Messaggero, also reported that a sperm whale trapped in illegal fishing gear was rescued off the coast of Lipari Island in the Aeolian Islands on the same day.

According to local media, the Italian coast guard received a report on the morning of the 26th about a whale caught in a net off the coast of Salina Island in the Aeolian Islands.

The coast guard dispatched to the scene stated, "The whale's fin was entangled in the net, preventing it from moving."

The coast guard, together with civilian volunteers, launched a rescue operation for the whale.

Italian Coast Guard and civilian volunteers rescuing a whale. Photo by Sergio Costa, captured from the Facebook page of the Italian Minister of Environment.

They conducted the rescue operation in 2-meter deep water, and after working for over an hour, the net entangling the whale's tail fin was removed.

The coast guard reported that the 10-meter-long male sperm whale swam safely back to the open sea after the net was removed. They explained that the removed net was used for catching sailfish and tuna.

Minister Costa expressed gratitude to the coast guard and warned that no one should endanger the marine ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the coast guard investigated the vessel that set the illegal fishing gear and imposed legal sanctions, including fines.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.