Whales entangled in deep sea cables

• Published in: Deep Sea Research (1953)
• Main Author: Heezen, Bruce C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 1957
• Subjects: Pacific; Sperm whale
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/50857/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/50857/1/3000.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1016/0146-6313(56)90040-5

Fourteen instances of whales entangled in submarine cables are reported. Ten entanglements occured off the Pacific coast of Central and South America. Six cases occured in about 500 fathoms, with 620 fathoms the maximum depth reported. Five entanglements occured in the period, Februray-March-April. All whales positively identified were sperm whales. The submarine cable was generally wrapped around jaw and often around the flukes and fins. The cable was rarely broken but always badly mauled. The entanglements often occured near former repairs where there is a chance for extra slack cable on the bottom. Two photographs of a sperm whale entangled in a cable and one photograph of a whale-jaw entangled in a cable are presented. It is concluded that sperm whales often swim alog the sea floor in depths as grat as 620 fathoms. It is suggested that the whales become entangled while swimming along with their jaw plowing through the sediment in search of food. It is possible that the whales attack tangled masses of slack cable mistaking them for items of food.