Young Harbour Seal Rescued After Gillnet Entanglement
in West Vancouver
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) has rescued a young harbour seal from a life-threatening gillnet entanglement in West Vancouver.
The female seal was reported by a concerned member of the public. VAMMR in coordination with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) responded immediately. The pup, now named Annette, was transported to the VAMMR hospital for urgent care and removal of the netting.
Upon assessment, veterinary staff found Annette to be in critical condition. At just 18.2kg she is half the body weight a healthy harbour seal should be at her age. She was also suffering from a very deep wound around her neck, caused by prolonged entanglement in fishing gear.
Annette is currently receiving intensive care, including wound management, antibiotics, pain control, and nutritional support as she begins her recovery and the VAMMR team is cautiously optimistic, as she has shown steady progress throughout the week.
This incident highlights the serious risks that improperly handled or discarded fishing gear poses to marine wildlife. It is likely that Annette was initially entangled in a larger net and was later partially cut free, leaving netting still wrapped around her neck. While this may have seemed helpful at the time, cutting an animal loose without reporting the incident can leave them with severe injuries that worsen over time.
“It’s always difficult to see injuries like these, because they are entirely preventable,” said Dr. Martin Haulena, Executive Director and Head Veterinarian of VAMMR. Dr. Haulena stresses that reporting entanglements immediately is critical. Reporting allows trained responders to locate the animal quickly, assess injuries, and provide life-saving care.
“If you encounter a marine mammal entangled in fishing gear or any ocean debris, please report it right away,” said Emily Johnson, VAMMR Assistant Manager “Early intervention can mean the difference between life and death.”
To report a marine mammal entanglement or animal in distress:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO): 1-800-465-4336
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Hotline: 604-258-7325
Members of the public are reminded to keep a safe distance from marine mammals and never attempt to handle or disentangle an animal themselves.
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society is a non-profit organization, and donations help support Annette’s care as well as its marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation work in British Columbia. More information, including updates on Annette’s recovery and ways to help protect marine wildlife, is available at vammr.org and on social media at @vammrs.
The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (“VAMMR”) runs Canada’s only dedicated marine mammal rescue facility. Each year the team responds to over 300 marine animal emergencies, including the rescue and rehabilitation of sick, injured, or orphaned animals and the disentanglement of sea lions trapped by marine debris. Hundreds of marine mammals (from seals, sea lions, and sea otters to small cetaceans) have been given a second chance at life thanks to VAMMR.