Minke whale freed from fishing net off the island of Texel

DutchNews.nl, Sunday 03 August 2014

The whale with fishing net clearly visible. Photo: Warneming.nl - Hans Verdaat

A nine-metre long Minke whale which became caught up in a fishing net off the island of Texel has been freed by a local boat trip operator.

People on several boats had attempted to release the whale but went back to land because of approaching bad weather, Nos television said.

Peter Gompleman stayed close to the whale with his motor off and when he drifted close enough grabbed hold of the net. The whale began to pull but Gompleman held on tight. After a strong pull from the whale, the net came free and it was able to swim away into the North Sea.

Gompelman says he was not afraid of being so close to the animal, but that he thought it wanted to be released.

Minke whales are rarely spotted in so close to the islands and experts say it may have been lost.

‘These creatures are usually much more towards the north,’ Arthur Oosterbaan of local marine group Ecomare said. ‘If we see them they have usually become stranded and died. The last live Minke whale seen in the area was in 2004.

More photos of the whale