SeaWorld Joins Whale Rescue Operation

The U.S. Coast Guard Wednesday morning was one of several groups scouting for a gray whale still trapped in fishing line as volunteers from the Pacific Marine Mammal Center stood poised to resume their rescue efforts.

"We are actively searching for the whale, as well as Sea World San Diego, all the whale watching boats and helicoptor tours in the area," said Dean Gomersall, an animal care supervisor at the center. "He should be turning north toward Los Angeles, and marine-watching boats there will also be on the lookout."

The whale was spotted Tuesday and volunteers partially removed the fishing line. Volunteers told ABC yesterday that the effort was complicated because the whale was being uncooperative.

The crew also found that there was more fishing line entangled in the whale's mouth, according to KABC.

"We had a 40- to 45-foot whale let us know in no uncertain terms that it did not like what we were trying to do for it," said Dana Friedman, one of the rescuers.

The whale was last seen at 6 p.m. Tuesday about 10 miles off the coast.

Michelle Hunter, the director of animal care for the center, said yesterday the group was using a volunteer's boat, supported by a boat from the Ocean Institute, but the Coast Guard will have to determine the location of the whale before the center can figure out what boats are available to rescuers.

Hunters said this year was unusual in that the latest whale entanglement is the third off the coast of Orange County.

The team was able to attach three buoys to the whale, a 45-footer, to help track it. It was initially towing about 50 to 100 feet of line stuck on its left pectoral fin and another line was stuck in the whale's mouth, City News Service reported.

Here's footage of other entangled whales: