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Cottrell says the department's rescue team and the Cetus Research and Conservation Society spent three days freeing the whale from the fishing gear, in an operation the department documented in a social-media video.

He says the first day of the operation rid Tutu of most of the gear before the whale was tracked with a satellite tag to locate him the next day.

Cottrell says Tutu was finally freed on Sept. 6, suffering a few abrasions on the flukes, which did not appear to be life-threatening.

He says anyone who sees a whale in distress should report it immediately to the department's 24-hour marine mammal incident hotline.

This report by ºÃÉ«tvwas first published Sept. 11, 2025.