The whale was first seen entangled last Sunday, just prior to sunset, in Cape Cod Bay, by recreational fishermen. The following morning the MAER team conducted a search for the whale off Provincetown and Truro, without luck. On Tuesday afternoon, a Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) aerial survey team came across the whale off Nauset Inlet, Eastham. The MAER team was already on the water and responded while NEFSC circled the whale.

Once on scene the MAER team found a badly entangled whale that had likely been carrying rope and buoys from fishing gear for some time. Heavy rope was caught in the mouth of the whale and wrapped the body multiple times, which would have prevented the whale from feeding. The team used a grappling hook thrown into the entanglement to establish a control line, should the whale dive. The team then used a hook-shaped knife at the end of a long pole to selectively cut away most of its entanglement. A portion of line was left on the whale since it was deeply embedded in wounds at its left flipper. Removing this may have caused excessive bleeding. While the prognosis for this whale is poor, it did resume normal swimming behavior, which gave the team some optimism.

Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whales seen off New England and migrate into the area during the summer months to feed. Entanglement reports are not uncommon for this species, and often include whales that have died from drowning in gear due to their smaller size.

“It is pretty rare for a free-swimming entangled minke whale to be seen again after its initial report” said Scott Landry, director of the MAER program. “It was very lucky and fortunate that the aerial team resighted it.”

Many thanks go to the fishermen who reported this whale and to the NEFSC for their support during the disentanglement.

Boaters are urged to report any entanglement sightings of whales, sea-turtles or other marine animals to the MAER team (1-800-900-3622) or the US Coast Guard on VHF 16, and to stand by the animal at a safe distance until trained responders arrive.

CCS disentanglement work is supported in part by grants from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA-DMF), the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, and private foundations and donors. All disentanglement activities are conducted under a federal permit authorized by NOAA.

Click here for video.

Over the last two weeks, the apprentices worked alongside the Marine Animal Entanglement Response team to gain firsthand experience with entangled whales, including a response to an entangled humpback whale calf on August 20.

“Having the opportunity to learn directly from an experienced team and participate in a response has strengthened my knowledge, skills and confidence,” said Karen Dominguez, biologist with the Ministry of Environment of Panamá. Andrés Matus, veterinarian with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service of Chile said that this was part of a “continuing collaboration and exchange between our teams, with the shared goals of protecting whales and responding as safely as possible.”

The apprenticeship scheme is one component of a successful and long-running partnership between the IWC and CCS. Established in 2011, this capacity-building partnership combines the international reach of the IWC with CCS’ expertise as globally respected pioneers of entanglement response techniques and practices.

Disentangling whales is extremely challenging. It often involves complex entanglement in fishing lines and large animals in distress. Boat handling, navigation, and communication skills, as well as an understanding of sea and weather conditions and navigation, are required to allow for informed decision-making.

GWERN has delivered entanglement response training to more than 1300 participants from over 40 countries. The apprenticeships offer more advanced training, designed for people leading response teams and networks.

As well as in-depth practical training on the water, apprenticeships cover a diverse range of classroom topics, from effective organization of response networks, documentation for entanglement prevention and the importance of public awareness.

Support came from the IWC, Save the Blue Five, CCS and the countries of Chile and Panamá.

Joining the celebration are several partners of the CCS Marine Debris & Plastics Program: The Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, a nonprofit dedicated to ocean conservation, who will attend on their sailing research vessel American Promise; Sail As You Are, a nonprofit organization that operates the historical schooner Hindu and cutter Bloodhound in Provincetown; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, with whom CCS has had many collaborations; and numerous marine debris artists from the region.

The three-day schedule includes a shoreline cleanup and seal walk at High Head, a marine debris trash tally, short films screened on the Hindu’s sail, demonstrations of innovative new research equipment, marine debris art workshops and exhibits, and a sunset sail with resident and visiting vessels.

The offerings begin with a shoreline cleanup at High Head in North Truro on Thursday morning, followed by a CCS Seal Walk there in the afternoon. 

Friday’s schedule begins with the final 2026 CCS Science in the Harbor tour with the Dolphin Fleet, an informative, entertaining 90-minute cruise around Provincetown Harbor where passengers learn about research, rescue, and other CCS activities involving Long Point, the Pamet River, the Cape Cod National Seashore and other locations. 

Following the cruise, a science-art fair will be staged on MacMillan Pier to highlight collaborative research and artistic connections. Equipment and technology associated with research at CCS, Rozalia Project and WHOI will be demonstrated. Artwork by important practicing marine debris artists from the northeast region will be on exhibit, and several artists will be on site to demonstrate their unique use of marine debris. Visitors will be invited to participate in art creation activities during the fair.

Friday afternoon, an open “gallery-galley stroll” on the pier, at Explorers Landing, and aboard the sailing vessels Hindu and American Promise will coincide with the weekly Gallery Stroll normally centered on Commercial Street. Helping Hands Pedi-Cab will make the stroll simpler by donating rides to and from the event and wine will be provided by Truro Vineyards.

At dusk following the Gallery-Galley Stroll, a series of short films about the ocean will be projected on Hindu’s mainsail. A stop-action film made during the week at a PAAM workshop using CCS marine debris will anchor the screening.

The final Inspired By the Sea event will take place on Saturday evening with a sunset sail including Schooner Hindu, Cutter Bloodhound, American Promise and other Provincetown sailing vessels. 

The full schedule will be listed on the CCS event calendar. Registration is required for the Thursday cleanup and seal walk, the Friday Science in the Harbor Tour with Dolphin Fleet, and Saturday’s sunset sail. All other events are free and open to the public.

“Coast to Coast for Coastal Studies” is the fulfillment of a dream for James, 50 years in the making. He first conceived of the idea of a cross-country ride in 1976, at the age of 15, to mark the US Bicentennial. Unable to make the ride then, at age 30 he once again determined to make the ride, but life’s obligations intervened. Now retired, he decided it was finally time to fulfil a life-long dream.

In addition to raising funds for CCS, the realization of James’ 50-year vision coincides with the Center for Coastal Studies’ 50th anniversary. James chose to support CCS because he wanted his ride to have a greater purpose. 

“If you support this ride, you’re not just backing me, you’re helping protect whales, advance marine research, and preserve our coastal ecosystem. It’s a small contribution that adds up to something meaningful,” he explained.

James set a goal of raising $50,000, and has raised nearly half that so far. To donate, please go to the Coast to Coast For Coastal Studies page on the CCS website. 

“The Center for Coastal Studies is doing real hands-on work to protect our oceans and whales, especially here on Cape Cod. What inspires me about CCS is they’re not only protecting the ocean, but they’re actively studying it every day, and sharing that information broadly to advance ocean conservation. It felt like the perfect cause to ride for,” he said.

The public can follow James’ progress through regular updates on his Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, as well as Strava. 

Late Friday morning recreational boaters came across an entangled whale and attempted to free it. Once they realized the dangers of that attempt they called the CCS whale disentanglement hotline after returning to shore. The MAER team mounted a response and found a relatively large humpback whale anchored in fishing gear.

The team deployed a small inflatable boat and made a full assessment of the whale’s entanglement and its injuries. Using grappling hooks and hook-shaped knives on long poles, the team systematically removed the entanglement. Once freed the whale dove and swam off quickly.

This was the second whale disentanglement for the MAER team in a week, the first was on Wednesday off Rockport, MA. In both cases, the whales were aided by Good Samaritan boaters who reported the sightings. Entanglement in fishing gear is the leading cause of injury and mortality for many whale and sea turtle species. Federally-permitted and authorized disentanglement offers individual whales a better chance at survival while adding to needed information that will be useful in preventing entanglements.

All mariners are urged to keep an eye out for entangled whales and sea turtles, report the sighting immediately (by calling the CCS hotline: 1-800-900-3622 or hailing the US Coast Guard on channel 16) and stand by the entangled animal at a safe distance until responders arrive.

CCS disentanglement work is supported in part by grants from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA-DMF), the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, and private foundations and donors. All disentanglement activities are conducted under a federal permit authorized by NOAA.

Click here Underwater video.

Click here for drone video.

Click here for video from boat.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 4, recreational boaters came across a small humpback whale with a buoy from fishing gear in tow. They immediately reported the sighting to the US Coast Guard who passed the information along to the MAER hotline. Due to time and distance no response could be mounted that day. The MAER team sent out a message to the disentanglement network to keep an eye out for the whale.

On Wednesday morning the MAER team set out from Provincetown to look for the whale.  The Rockport harbormaster, along with NOAA staff, also headed out to join the search. By late morning a recreational boater came across the whale and reported the sighting.

Once on scene, the MAER team worked to affix a grappling hook to rope that was caught in the whale’s mouth. Working from a small inflatable boat, the team used the entangling rope to pull up behind the whale to cut away the fishing buoy. The team then added large floats to the rope, the drag of which pulled the remaining entanglement from the whale. The whale then sped off out of Ipswich Bay.

Many thanks go to the recreational boaters who promptly reported this case, and to the Rockport Harbormaster, NOAA and the USCG.

Boaters are urged to report any entanglement sightings of whales, sea-turtles or other marine animals to the MAER team (1-800-900-3622) or the US Coast Guard on VHF 16, and to stand by the animal at a safe distance until trained responders arrive.

CCS disentanglement work is supported in part by grants from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (MA-DMF), the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, and private foundations and donors. All disentanglement activities are conducted under a federal permit authorized by NOAA.

Click her for video.

More than 60 runners came out for the 12th annual Run the Trails for Whales 5K as part of the Center for Coastal Studies’ Whale Week on Sunday, August 2nd.  David Shapiro of Truro was the overall winner and top male finisher with a time of 19:35, while CCS Marine Debris & Plastic Program Intern Eleanor Condon was the top female finisher and 6th overall with a time of 22:58. Congratulations David and Eleanor!

Thank you to our sponsors J & E Produce, Lunchtime Runner, the Provincetown DPW, Cape Cod National Seashore, and our wonderful t-shirt artist, Sophie Mueller.

Click here for a full list of finishers.

Click here for a YouTube video of the finish line.

Photos by Manuel Chinchilla and Jesse Mechling.

When I began this role in the winter of 2024 as what I have lovingly come to refer to as an Ocean Garbage Fella, I had no idea what to expect other than I was going to be picking trash off the beaches of Cape Cod and cleaning the ocean through some sort of bigger picture plan. What I didn’t know was that I was going to end up being a liaison between the worlds of science, policy, the general public, state and federal stakeholders, Indigenous tribes, commercial contractors, and the commercial fishing industry. As I ready myself to move on to new opportunities, I look back along the winding road this position has taken. 

In November of 2023 I wrote a cover letter to Laura Ludwig in a bid to become her new operations assistant and stated: 

“Every single time I enter the water, the human impact on our oceans is obvious, unavoidable, and staggering. Outside of typical plastic refuse, ghost traps and nets litter every submarine space in the northeast that I have seen. These remnants of our fisheries have become ubiquitous and I have wracked my brain for solutions to the issue.”

I was looking at the marine debris through the lens of a professional diver who was driven to remedy the issues of ghost gear visible on every dive that I conducted. Laura saw that interest and unique perspective and brought me on board. In this new age of AI slop mucking up our brains as well as the environment, she could tell that I had written from my own knowledge and experience, which also set me apart.

Left to right: Fritz McGirr (CCS), Mike McDevitt (Acushnet Marine), Jorge Ayub (DCR), and Laura Ludwig (CCS)
after a successful Peddocks Island cleanup with Barge Steven McDevitt in the background.

The first months of the position revolved around learning to distinguish one bit of plastic found on the beach from another while becoming acquainted with our massive Beach Brigade volunteer base. We attended a ghost gear conference and the Fishermen’s Forum in Maine as well as the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association (MLA) annual meeting on the Cape. I looked at datasets of gear recovered over the years and depicted the data in all of the ways my science background had taught me. We had ongoing meetings with stakeholders of the Boston Harbor Islands including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Boston Harbor Now regarding a massive cleanup effort of the five outer islands of the harbor that was to take place in the fall. So far everything fell somewhat into the realm of what a master’s degree in marine science should prepare one for: fieldwork, data collection and analysis, stakeholder engagement, and policy review.

As we entered the spring we arrived at the field season for what would become my position’s bread and butter: sea-based ghost gear removal. Laura had a vision of expanding the current project activity out of Provincetown to include Boston and the North Shore onto Cape Ann. I am based in Boston and she left it up to me to “hit the docks” and find the fishermen we can work with for this project. No part of my scientific education included a course on “how to speak fisherman” but I went about the task with gusto anyway. Scientists are typically looked at with distrust if not outright disdain by the commercial fishing industry. After all, in some minds we are the reason there are regulations on fishing and the reason they’re struggling more and more every year. 

LEFT: A full 30-yd container of crushed traps ready for recycling, Manchester.
RIGHT: Dom Spinale teaches research assistant Annaleah Ernst how to splice lines on the F/V Victoria.

Jump to a beautiful spring day and I am on a run through Winthrop toward Deer Island (as part of my marathon training). I pass a large trap yard and can see a couple guys working on their traps before the season opens in May. I turn around in my short shorts, pink running shoes, and sea creature patterned hat and approach these sea-weathered, cigarette smoking fellas who look more than amused by this odd stranger coming toward them. The conversation started with “why should I care about ghost gear” and after a bit of explaining the project and that we would pay them to be on the water when they aren’t usually working ended with “all right let’s try a day and see what we find.” That one single day in 2024 yielded 28 traps recovered and we were able to return 25 of them back to the owner. The guys got to see how many lobsters, crabs, and fish were still being fished in those traps and finished the day smiling and congratulating each other on helping their fishing grounds and getting the gear back to the rightful owner. These same fishermen said “Absolutely!” when I approached them to do an entire season of work both in 2025 and this last spring in 2026.

Over the couple years that have passed since that first foray and experience with Boston fishermen, the roster has grown to include fishermen in East Boston, Beverly, and Manchester-By-The-Sea. In the past two seasons plus the single day in 2024 we have removed 499 traps from Boston Harbor and Salem Sound. The guys are happy to do the work. They’re fascinated by everything we find on the bottom and definitely get a kick out of what I do and the other research assistants I bring on board for a day on the water. I receive calls from fishermen on holidays now and am often invited to grab a beer or pizza when they’re off the water. I’ve spent days learning from their expertise – reading currents and conditions, to tying knots and trouble shooting issues on the water. 

There’s a mutual trust that has built over time with the commercial fishermen and industrial contractors I have gotten to work with and I have an absolute respect for what they do every single day. They go out on the water when the rest of us would stay inside and they keep the economy of Massachusetts ticking along. They have gotten to see a little of what some scientists are doing and understand that we aren’t anti-fishing. We’re attempting to understand where best practices regarding gear can be updated while also cleaning the little bit of the ocean that we can.

LEFT: Frank Carpenter and Dom Spinale unload reusable traps from F/V Victoria to Steve Holler on Medeiros Pier,  Boston;
RIGHT: A load of traps and interesting bycatch on the F/V Miss Lilly, Provincetown.

These three years have taught me a vast amount and I’ve gotten to be a part of some really amazing projects from the ground level to the top of the operations. I’ve been deep in the nitty gritty (literally) as well as led workshops to peers with the National Parks on debris removal and data collection. I’ve collaborated with our ghost gear partners in Maine and New Hampshire to remove fishing gear from islands and shorelines there. I became known as the guy who gets stuff done. Do you need a 30-yard rolloff container delivered to an island? I know who to call. Do you need a crane, or a ship, or extra hands, or chainsaws, or a landing craft? I’ll get them there. I’ve become, if anything, multilingual in the languages needed to successfully put marine debris removal projects together. Massachusetts now formally recognizes any fishing gear that is no longer functioning as intended as debris instead of personal property, which allows anybody to clean our shorelines of debris that has washed ashore without worrying about legal ramifications. It is a direct result of our ongoing efforts that has led to this policy change and this has set the framework for other states (looking at you New Hampshire and Maine) to follow suit.

LEFT: Mike McDevitt delivers food for volunteers on Peddocks Island from the Tug Acushnet.
RIGHT: Volunteers and a large assortment of foam waiting for barge pickup on Peddocks Island

As the NOAA grant period that allowed me to be a part of this adventure draws to a close, I’m not sure what the next steps will be; but all of you who have met me know I will not be far removed from the marine debris world. The same passion I had when I wrote that cover letter in 2023 has, if anything, gotten stronger. Maybe I’ll just buy a boat and become the Boston Harbor Ocean Garbage Fella. We’ll see.

– Fritz

Photo at top: Fritz McGirr with a load of traps on the F/V Victoria, Boston Harbor.

In April, the Provincetown-based marine conservation organization enlisted dozens of volunteers from its Beach Brigade to remove more than 8,000 pounds of wire lobster traps and rope debris that were loose or able to be hauled by hand over the rocky shore.  But considerable  heavy and cumbersome debris remained, often wedged among the rocks. Much of the debris had accumulated during storms over several decades.

 “Winter storms at sea have energy that is hard to comprehend. Nor’easters will tear up tons of fishing gear off the ocean bottom, and the wave activity can roll the fishing gear into entangled masses that are often deposited on shore,” explained volunteer Tony Lacasse.

To remove the remaining debris, a highly technical operation was required to hoist the debris hundreds of feet to a staging area above.  A new crane from Winkler Crane and Construction Company of North Truro provided the most efficient method of removal.  Among the large debris removed Monday was a massive 5,400-pound tangled knot of nylon rope. 

Often working with partner agencies, CCS leads efforts to conduct shoreline cleanups on Cape Cod, the Boston Harbor Islands, Cuttyhunk, and many other locales, as well as to remove ghost gear, or lost lobster pots and other fishing gear, from the sea bottom.

Laura Ludwig, Marine Debris & Plastics Program Director at CCS, said, “Unless removed and disposed of properly, plastic debris on our coast remains forever, shedding microplastics and posing problems for habitat and wildlife. We were fortunate to work with Hull residents and others to help preserve this unique urban coastline.” 

The art on display is a visual banquet of images, ranging from a poignant black and white photo of a whale stranding on a Wellfleet beach by scientist/artist Alexis Doshas, to a series of zooplankton drawings in ink by scientist Agnes Mittermayer. Other works include a carved wood sculpture that evokes sand ripples by Cole Cook, a large textile of woven beach debris rope by Clinton Van Gemert, and a shadow box of oystercatcher foot prints by Audrey Luster, and much more.

The works highlight the connections between the arts and sciences, and Adams noted that many artists were eager to participate in the show because the ocean and marine ecosystems, and CCS research, inspire their creative processes.

“What I like best about this exhibition is how it brings together a community in conversation about living by the ocean, with voices from different art practices and ways of life. These people inspire me and inspire each other. The work comes directly from the experience of living here on the Outer Cape,” said Adams.

The exhibition was made possible by bookshop owner Barbara Clarke, and is on view through the end of July, and possibly into August.  The Provincetown Bookshop is located at 229 Commercial Street, and is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm.

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