Dolphin rescues and disentanglements: 2006-2011
Dolphin entanglements and strandings in the Sarasota Bay area and elsewhere in recent years have led to rescues involving the SDRP. We were involved in three bottlenose dolphin disentanglements in 2011. The ongoing field efforts of the SDRP provide opportunities to follow-up on local rescue cases, as summarized below.
Ginger
In December 2008, a 3-year-old female resident dolphin named Ginger stranded on Siesta Beach and was taken to Mote Marine Laboratory for treatment for gastrointestinal and respiratory problems.
She was released 2 months later, with a small VHF tag and she was closely monitored for two months.
After the radio tag stopped transmitting and was jettisoned, we kept track of Ginger during our monthly photographic identification surveys.
Over time, her range has increased, and she has been seen in larger groups, often socializing with other juveniles including her recently independent younger brother, Wasabi. She was seen 26 times in 2011, and appears to be in good health.
In the case of Ginger, the reason for her stranding was unclear. However, in many other cases, human interactions are the primary cause necessitating a dolphin rescue.
Scrappy
In July 2006, Scrappy, an 8-year-old male, was observed in a large men’s bathing suit. His head had gone through the waist and one of the leg holes, and the suit was cutting deeply into the leading edge of his flippers. Scrappy was briefly captured, examined, treated and released on 3 August 2006, and the bathing suit was removed. Since his rescue, he has been seen more than 100 times, including 13 times in 2011. Recently, he was observed cooperatively herding fish with several other young adults in mid-Sarasota Bay.
FB28
On 22 June 2007, FB28, a 42 year old male, was seen entangled with monofilament fishing line, which was tightly wrapped three times from the dorsal fin to the fluke.
FB28 showing off his line-free fluke during his most recent sighting on 27 October 2011. FB28 suffers from a chronic fungal disease called lacaziosis.
On 6 July 2007, a SDRP rescue team was able to approach FB28 with a long handled cutting tool and remove the line from the dorsal fin. The line was still draped across his fluke, but cutting the tension allowed the line to eventually clear the fluke on its own.
Now 46 years old, FB28 is one of our oldest known males.
During most of the 40 years we have known him, FB28 has emphasized the northern portion of our Sarasota Bay study area, and southern Tampa Bay. FB28 was seen 3 times in 2011, including a sighting on 27 October in the mouth of Tampa Bay, where he was showing off his line-free fluke while catching fish.
Nellie
In February 2010, SDRP staff noticed the 9-month-old calf of resident dolphin FB25 had some plastic
Nellie in Big Pass on 17 October 2011.
twine and a metal hook entangled around her head. She was briefly captured on 1 March 2010, and the entanglement was successfully removed. Nellie has since become independent of FB25 (who had her 8th calf this year) and has been seen 32 times since her rescue, including a recent occasion where she was socializing with a group of 9 dolphins.
C797
C797 with his mom on 23 March 2011. Other than the entanglement, he appears to be in good health.
Although the three prior cases were successful rescues/disentanglements, occasionally an individual is not as fortunate.
C797 on 24 May 24 2011. Just two months later he is extremely emaciated, the line has cut deeply into the dorsal fin, and he has become entangled in even more fishing line.
On 18 March 2011, SDRP staff observed C797, the 9-month-old calf of long-term Sarasota resident FB79, entangled in fishing line. There appeared to be a hook inside the mouth, and line extended from the mouth around the body, cutting into the leading edge of the dorsal fin, and trailing behind the dolphin’s fluke.
Over the next 3 months, a number of attempts were made to disentangle C797. Both approaching the free swimming dolphin to cut line with a long handled cutting tool and temporary capture-release were tried a number of times.
C797 was seen by SDRP staff 20 times during his entanglement. On 10 occasions, we were able to attempt disentanglement with a long handled cutting tool. Unfortunately, he was very evasive and our attempts were mostly unsuccessful.
Efforts to locate, temporarily capture, and remove the gear from C797, involving 5-10 boats and 30-80 people, were made on 8 different days, but we were unable to find him in a safe capture situation.
C797 was covered in more than 25 meters of various types of fishing gear. The increased use of braided fishing line in the Sarasota area is concerning as it may do more damage more quickly than monofilament.
On 17 June, an emaciated C797 was seen with FB79, swimming lethargically. We were able to use the long handled tool to cut a small amount of line from him and eventually hooked some line, allowing us to pull him close to the boat, where we worked rapidly to remove all the remaining gear. He was released quickly and was soon seen surfacing next to his mother, completely free of gear!
FB79 was next seen on 22 June, without her calf. Despite our efforts, C797’s condition had probably deteriorated too far for him to be able to recover, but at least he was able to spend his final days clear of the painful line.
Examination of the gear suggested at least five different entanglements, involving more than 25 meters of monofilament and braided fishing line as well as 3 different hooks/lures.
Although SDRP staff and our numerous collaborators and volunteers have been successful in rescuing entangled dolphins in the past, this case tragically highlights that we will not always be able to help despite our best efforts.
The entanglement of C797 is unfortunate; however, this case study is an excellent example to be utilized by conservation educators on the importance of responsible fishing practices. The best way to help is to reduce the chances of a dolphin encountering fishing line in the first place. Remember not to discard your fishing line into the water as it can be deadly to marine life. Please refer to the “Dolphin Friendly Fishing and Viewing Tips” card for other ways to reduce negative impacts on dolphins.
Y06
On 8 August 2011, during NOAA health assessments in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, we caught a young male with healed presumed boat propeller wounds on his dorsal fin. The remaining pieces of fin had collected monofilament line, which we removed prior to release of the animal.
Tt256:
On three occasions in July 2011, Dr. Ann Weaver observed an entangled 6-month-old calf with its mother in John’s Pass, near St. Petersburg. Monofilament line formed a bridle through the calf’s mouth, wrapped around its right flipper, cut into the base of the dorsal fin, and trailed behind.
Tt256 with entangling monofilament fishing line and remoras on 21 October 2011. Photo by Ann Weaver.
The dolphin was not seen again until late October, at which point NOAA asked SDRP to lead a rescue capture.
On 15 November, after many days of high winds precluding rescue attempts, a team of 35 people including Larry Fulford, and staff from the SDRP, NOAA Fisheries Service, University of Florida, Mote Marine Lab, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and the Florida Aquarium was able to capture the calf and its mother in shallow water and remove the gear.
Although the line had cut deeply into the calf in several places, he was in generally good body condition, he responded well during the treatment, he exchanged frequent whistles with his mother throughout the brief procedures, and he swam off strongly with his mother upon release – we have every expectation that he will do well in the absence of gear.
