Whale Disentanglement Network.
Interaction with fishing gear represents one of the most significant threats to whales worldwide. In Mexico, in order to address this crisis, Ecología y Conservación de Ballenas, AC (ECOBAC) created the Whale Disentanglement Network, known as RABEN, with support of CONANP (Mexico’s Park System).. RABEN is a network of inter-institutional teams of trained personnel who carry out rescues of whales entangled in fishing gear. In the Mexican Pacific and the Baja California Peninsula, there are 17 trained teams with more than 200 members and the necessary equipment to rescue whales entangled in fishing gear.
Team members may vary accordingly to each region, but usually teams include personal from the Mexican Navy, Harbour Masters, API, Wildlife rangers (PROFEPA), FONMAR, whale watching tour operators, Universities and Non Profit Organizations. RABEN follows the International Whaling Comission (IWC) big whale disentanglement protocol and rescues are conduct from a boat (no rescues are done scuba diving or snorkeling). This protocol has been tested for over 40 years and it guarantees the safety of staff and ensures minimal impact on the whales.
RABEN has rescued more than 100 whales, mainly humpbacks, but also grey, fin and Bryde’s whales.
If you don´t have reception, contact the authorities (VHF 16). Please leave all your information so we can contact you back.
Getting too close or swimming with whales can pose risks to humans and the whales and may alter the whale´s behavior. The Mexican whale watching regulations allow authorized vessels to approach whales no closer than 200ft (330ft for blue and fin whales). Vessels with no whale watching permits have to keep 800ft distance.
Do not get in the water or try to release an entangled whale, it´s very dangerous!
If you find an entangled whale report it to the local authorities (Navy, Harbor Master, CONANP).
