The national marine mammal entanglement response networks safely and effectively respond to reports of entangled marine mammals and provide response coverage in all coastal states.
Marine mammal bycatch is a significant anthropogenic threat to recovering populations. Gear reduction in Washington (USA) crab fishery decreased entanglement risk to whales.
When well-intentioned members of the public take matters into their own hands to try and save a whale, they put themselves and the animals in grave danger.