Whale Caught In 50 Feet Of Netting Rescued By Dana Point Crew

DANA POINT (CBS) — A young California Gray whale whose tail was trapped in 50 feet of netting is now swimming free thanks to the help from a Dana Point whale watching crew.

Capt. Dave Anderson, of Capt. Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari, says he and his wife Gisele were on their way to dinner Friday when they got a call from one of their whale watching boats, notifying them that a whale had been spotted with a huge amount of gillnet wrapped around its tail flukes.

With the help of  several friends, Capt. Dave and his crew were able to keep track of the whale through the night Friday and work the whale's tail free of the netting before nightfall Saturday.

The whale, nicknamed Bart by the crew, had gotten caught in netting toting a sea lion, a leopard shark, two angel sharks, various crabs, fish and rays.

"This whale was towing an entire ecosystem behind it," Anderson said.