A young humpback whale, just 2 or 3 years old, suffered for nearly two days on an Oregon beach after becoming entangled in commercial crab gear. Despite rescue efforts, the whale was too weak to return to the ocean and was euthanized to end his suffering.

This heartbreaking event unfolded near Yachats, where beachgoers first discovered the stranded animal wrapped in thick lines. Federal officials have confirmed the rope came from Oregon’s commercial Dungeness crab fishery. Now, state and federal agencies are investigating how this happened, and how it can be prevented.

Sadly, this is not an isolated case. Whale entanglements along the West Coast have been increasing for years. As humpback populations recover and migration routes bring them closer to nearshore fishing zones, they are at higher risk of becoming entangled in the gear we leave in their path.

Oregon has taken some steps to reduce these risks, such as limiting the number of crab pots per vessel and closing parts of the season early. But clearly, it is not enough.

We are calling on the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to act immediately. When the commission reviews current crab fishery rules in 2026, they must adopt stronger protections, including ropeless gear testing, mandatory electronic vessel monitoring, stricter gear limits, and real-time whale tracking programs.

Every whale death caused by fishing gear is preventable. These are intelligent, sentient animals that suffer in silence until it is too late. Oregon can and should lead the way in showing that wildlife, especially threatened marine species, deserve more than reactive measures and broken promises.

Please add your name if you believe Oregon must do more to protect whales from painful, unnecessary entanglements. Our state can support a thriving crab fishery and protect marine life at the same time. This whale deserved better — and future whales are counting on us to act now.

Photo: Mark Graves