A seal that got tangled in the biggest net ever seen by rescuers has been saved.
The animal was trapped in the 100ft-long gear, which weighed over three stone.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) received reports that the young grey seal was fighting for its life on Gyllyngvase beach, Falmouth, Cornwall.
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The group said the animal was incredibly lucky as members of its response team, the public and two Cornish Seal Sanctuary staff who lived nearby helped release it back to the sea with no serious injuries.
It is believed the net was part of mid-water trawl gear, as reported by Need To Know.
The seal had become wrapped in red netting that was three times bigger than the previous largest single item of pollution BDMLR had ever released a live seal from.
The previous largest piece of pollution was 36ft-long when a seal was rescued in 2022.
“With the tide washing in around it, members of the public had managed to recover the animal with the net, thought to be mid-water trawl gear, across the rocks on to the main beach,” said a spokesperson.
“In the meantime, BDMLR’s trained volunteer responders had been urgently dispatched to the scene.
“Luckily, one of them was already on another part of the same beach and arrived within seconds, while others followed minutes later.
“Two off-duty staff members from the Cornish Seal Sanctuary who live in the area also attended the emergency.
“Between the responders, the young seal and entangling mass attached to it were moved further up the beach away from the fast-incoming tide so that it could be safely cut free.
“With so much net wrapped tightly around its body this took some time, with many strands to slice through.
“Eventually, once it was free, the juvenile animal was given a thorough health assessment that determined it had fortunately received no serious injuries and was otherwise in good health.
“It was given a temporary mark for future identification before being released back on to the beach and headed into the sea.
“This is the largest single item of pollution that BDMLR has freed a live seal from, with the previous one being an 11m trawl net cut from another young grey seal near St Ives on almost the exact same date in 2022.
“In both cases these animals were incredibly lucky to have been found and the actions of members of the public and BDMLR responders were clearly instrumental in saving the lives of these two unfortunate entanglement victims.
“Sadly, entanglement in marine litter such as ghost fishing gear, frisbee rings, plastic bags and other items continues to be a major threat to the welfare of seals and other wildlife species.
“BDMLR supports the efforts of communities, conservation groups, councils, individuals and the fishing industry to dispose of lost, abandoned and discarded fishing gear as well as other forms of pollution as their actions undoubtedly save animals from suffering and eventual death.
“However, more needs to be done to reduce these casualties from happening in the first place.”
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