A humpback whale, named “Pop Tart,” spent nearly one week entangled in fishing gear north of the Canada-U.S. border, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association
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Author: Olivia Sullivan
Published: 6:11 PM PDT July 10, 2026
Updated: 10:50 PM PDT July 10, 2026
SEATTLE — A Salish Sea humpback whale is now swimming freely after spending nearly a week tangled in fishing gear near the Canada-U.S. border, according to the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA).
The whale, named “Pop Tart” due to her love for popping out of the water as a calf, was spotted on July 2 by crew members on an Orca Spirit Adventure tour near Victoria, British Columbia. PWWA said the crew members saw a long rope and a buoy wrapped around her pectoral flipper.
“Entanglement in fishing gear is one of the greatest threats to humpback whales not just in the Salish Sea, but globally,” said Erin Gless, PWWA executive director. “Pop Tart’s positive outcome was the direct result of collaboration between PWWA whale watchers and DFO’s trained marine mammal responders. Vessels with the boater education groups Straitwatch (BC) and Soundwatch (WA) also helped search for and track Pop Tart over the past several days.”
Other vessels in the area kept watch over Pop Tart until a team from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) arrived. They could not remove the fishing gear from Pop Tart, but confirmed she was tangled and that the rope was nearly 100 feet long.
Over the following days, Pop Tart was spotted by vessels who kept watch and attempted to disentangle her. On Monday, July 6, DFO crews were able to attach a tracking buoy to her.
When she was spotted the next day, the fishing gear was no longer wrapped around her flipper.
Vessels from the DFO, Victoria-based Eagle Wing Tours, Puget Sound Express in Port Angeles, Outer Island Excursions in Anacortes, Coastal Explorations, Victoria-based Prince of Whales, SpringTide Tours and Orca Spirit Adventures all assisted with watching over Pop Tart during the incident.
Credit: Sarah Hunter, Eagle Wing Tours
Humpback whale swims free after days-long entanglement in fishing gear | king5.com