The Wildlife Scientific Authority (WSA) is advising fisherfolk and members of the public that if a marine mammal is observed to be entangled in fishing nets or stranded on land to immediately contact the Authority.
The WSA is concerned about the repeated entanglements of whales in fishing nets in recent times resulting in their deaths.
To prevent the death of such animals, the Authority advises fisherfolk to use their expert/traditional knowledge to determine on site if a large animal entangled in their net is a marine mammal or fish. Marine mammals need to surface to breathe, the Authority said in a press release. “When it is determined that there is a marine mammal in a net, the fisherfolk must take no action to free the animal,” the press release said.
Instead the fisherfolk (are) to immediately inform one or more of the following persons about the incident: Denzil Roberts, Chief Fisheries Officer, Fisheries Division – 225-9559; 641-9331; Sean Mendonca, Senior Environmental Officer, EPA – 225-5467; Calvin Bernard, chairman, Wildlife Scientific Authority – 617-4288 or Alona Sankar, Head, Wildlife Division – 223-0940, 624-0049 (after working hours only).
Once any of the said persons has been informed, efforts will then be made to coordinate resources (human and otherwise) to rescue and free the animal with minimal damage to both animal and gear, the release said.
