NOAA Fisheries has released the National Report on Large Whale Entanglements Confirmed in the United States in 2025. There were 76 confirmed large whale entanglement cases nationally in 2025. This is lower than the 95 confirmed large whale entanglement cases in 2024. It is slightly higher than the average annual number of confirmed entanglements over the previous 18 years, which is 72.7.
The annual report helps NOAA meet our mandates by facilitating "the dissemination of reference data on the health of marine mammals and health trends of marine mammals in the wild" under Section 402 (Title IV) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Entanglements in fishing gear or marine debris represent a continued threat to the welfare and recovery of many whale species. This includes species that are endangered, such as North Atlantic right whales. Entanglements involving threatened or endangered species can have significant negative impacts on the population as a whole.
Whales unable to free themselves can carry the entangling gear for days, months, or even years. Entanglements often interfere with swimming, feeding, breathing, and other vital functions. Severe entanglements can cause injuries that result in death from infection, starvation, amputation (of the flippers or flukes), blood loss, strangulation, or drowning.
Working with Partners to Respond to, Track, and Document Entanglements
NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program is proud to work with our partners in the U.S. Large Whale Entanglement Response Network. The Network is composed of highly skilled experts and trained response teams along all coasts. Network members track and document as many of these entanglement incidents as possible.
Scientists and managers use entanglement data to determine the impact of entanglement on individual whales and on populations. They look at different aspects of each entanglement case, including:
- Entanglement rates
- Entanglement severity
- Configuration of the entanglement on the animal
- Type of gear or debris
Injuries and impact to the animal
Experts use these criteria to evaluate existing management measures and implement new management measures that balance supporting successful and thriving marine industries with reducing the threat of entanglement to large whales.
How You Can Help
The U.S. Large Whale Entanglement Response Network relies on entanglement reports from the public. However, you should not attempt to disentangle whales yourself—call authorized professional responders instead. Disentangling large whales is a dangerous activity that requires years of training, specialized knowledge, and skills. Experts use customized tools and equipment to ensure the safety of the animals and the response team. Authorized U.S. Large Whale Entanglement Response Network responders can typically remove more of the entangling gear than members of the public. This leads to better outcomes for the whale and helps us gather valuable information that may reduce future entanglement threats and impacts.
State Entanglement Hotlines
If you encounter an entangled large whale, call your state hotline.
- Maine through Virginia: (866) 755-NOAA (866-755-6622)
- North Carolina through Texas, and Caribbean: (877) WHALE-HELP (877-942-5343)
- California, Oregon, and Washington: (877) SOS-WHALE (877-767-9425)
- Alaska: (877) 925-7773
- Hawaii: (888) 256-9840
