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Four Decades of Whale Rescue

CCS hosts meeting of
all existing national CCS MAER has rescued
entanglement response over 200 whales and
networks including Australia, sea turtles. The CCS-
Canada, New Zealand, South led Global Whale
Africa, and USA, to agree Entanglement Response
upon best practices, strategy Network has trained 1750
and curriculum for global entanglement responders
capacity building. in 43 countries.
2005 2011 2012 2024

CCS partners with In partnership with the
the Department of International Whaling
Marine Fisheries and Commission, efforts
NOAA to form the begin to build global
Massachusetts Sea capacity. First two
Turtle Disentanglement trainings held in Brazil
Network. and Argentina.

Expanding International Disentanglement
Training and Leadership

In 2024, the Global Whale Entanglement Response Network
(GWERN), a CCS collaboration with the International Whaling
Commission (IWC) coordinated by David Mattila, has continued
its international capacity-building work in large whale
disentanglement. Mattila, who has been with CCS since 1980, is
retiring as coordinator this year. During his four decades of work
he pioneered international research efforts such as the YoNAH
(Years of the North Atlantic Humpback) and SPLASH (Structures of
Population, Levels of Abundance and Status of Humpback Whales)
Disentanglement responder trainees from the National
Aquarium in Baltimore practice throwing a cutting grapple, projects, and organized global initiatives like the International
September 2024. Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas.

Going forward, Scott Landry, Director of CCS’s Marine Animal
Entanglement Response (MAER) team, and Astrid Frisch, a
humpback whale expert and CCS adjunct scientist from Mexico, will
take on leadership roles in international disentanglement efforts.
In 2023/2024, GWERN provided disentanglement training for 30
people in Costa Rica, 35 in Chile/Argentina, 30 in France, 20 in Spain
and 40 in Colombia. In 2024, CCS hosted responders from Australia
and the National Aquarium in Baltimore for two-week intensive
apprenticeships, preparing them to safely and effectively assist
whales in distress back home.

The MAER team successfully disentangles one of nine leatherback turtles
rescued during the summer of 2024.
CCS Image, taken under 50 CFR 222.310

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