Humpback whale entangled in rope at Skye fish farm

A humpback whale has got into difficulty after becoming entangled in rope at a fish farm off Skye.

Organic Sea Harvest said it had suspended normal operations at its Invertote site in the north of the island.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said it was alerted to the incident at 08:30 and had mobilised a team of volunteers.

It said an initial assessment suggested the whale was unable to swim freely.

Organic Sea Harvest said it notified the Scottish government and other relevant agencies immediately after the whale was discovered.

A spokesperson said: "Marine mammals, including dolphins and whales, are a common sight near salmon farms, but it is extremely rare for them to come into contact with our sites.

"We understand this is a worrying situation, and we want to assure everyone that we are doing everything possible to help the whale.

"Our team is fully focused on securing the best possible outcome. We will continue to provide updates as the rescue operation progresses."

BDMLR urged members of the public not to attempt to see the whale while the rescue effort was ongoing.

The charity said it had volunteers trained in untangling whales and had successfully rescued a humpback caught in creel ropes in Loch Fyne in Argyll on 4 November.

Adult humpbacks can grow to 17m in length.

In May 2023, a humpback whale that washed up in a Highland loch possibly died after becoming caught up in creel fishing lines, say experts.

The animal's carcass was found on sand banks in Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, near Golspie.

Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme identified it as a juvenile female humpback whale.

Other humpbacks have been found dead in East Lothian and Caithness following entanglements.