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Date Published: 22/04/2025

Orca rescued in the Strait of Gibraltar after becoming entangled in debris

The young whale was spotted with a buoy, ropes and fishing gear caught in its fin, sparking a coordinated rescue effort

An orca has been successfully rescued in the Strait of Gibraltar after becoming trapped in marine debris, including a buoy, a drum and remnants of longline fishing gear. The items were tangled around its right pectoral fin, putting the animal in clear danger by restricting its movement and ability to feed.

The Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (Miteco) led the rescue, working alongside the Maritime Service and the Nature Protection Service of the Guardia Civil, as well as Sasemar, the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine, and several marine organisations including Circe, Sea Observer, Seashepherd, Wewhale and Firmm.

The situation came to light on Friday April 18, when Miteco’s General Subdirectorate of Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity was notified of a group of orcas, at least eleven in total, hunting tuna about five miles north of Cape Spartel. One of the whales was seen with debris wrapped around its fin.

Bad weather over the weekend meant that efforts to free the animal had to be delayed. But first thing on Monday morning, the rescue team began searching the area. Once the orca was located, the team on board a Miteco vessel prepared to very carefully carry out the disentanglement.

The Ministry confirmed that the rescue team followed the International Whaling Commission’s official protocol for large whale disentanglements. Personnel involved had received specialist training from instructors earlier this year in Málaga.

The orca population in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cádiz is listed as vulnerable in Spain’s official Catalogue of Endangered Species. This means it is illegal to kill, capture or deliberately disturb these animals in any way. The population is protected under a conservation plan introduced in May 2017.

In addition, there is also a law in place to help protect whales and dolphins from human interference. Boats must stay at least 60 metres away, and people aren’t allowed to feed them, throw rubbish near them, or make loud noises to attract their attention, all measures aimed at minimising human impact on these already threatened species.

Image: Luis Valencia/Pexels

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