Cobie Smulders: Whales in Crisis

A crisis is unfolding off the West Coast of the United States.

Whales, just like this one, are getting entangled in fishing gear as they swim along their migration routes. Once entangled, these whales can drag heavy traps and lines for weeks — if not months — before they fall victim to their wounds.

As they struggle to swim, feed, and make it to the surface to breathe, the tough ropes cut deep into their flesh and bone, leading to life threatening infection and disease.

But it doesn’t have to be like this. Join Oceana in protecting whales from deadly entanglements in the Dungeness crab fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington.