A humpback whale tangled up in a craypot line in Queen Charlotte Sounds has been set free by three mussel farmers.
The trio came across the eight metre juvenile last night and contacted the Department of Conservation but were told they would not be able to reach it until the morning.
Doc had said earlier that cutting through thick craypot ropes is very challenging, and specially sharpened knives are needed. So timing is everything.
Rescuer Scott Madsen says they did not think it would last the night and gave it ago.
He says they have not seen it since, but he is concerned for its future.
“Whether it lives or not now is yet to be decided too, it has reasonable wounds. The rope had cut into its tail and it looked like it had lost circulation, and it’s not in a very well state really.”
The rescue took around an hour and a half, said rescuers.
Doc say they do not recommend people carryout such an operation themselves - despite the positive outcome.
RadioLIVE / 3 News