Entangled dolphin was freed at last

Crews from the U.S. Coast Guard, the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit's Bivalve Substation and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center on May 26 freed a bottlenose dolphin from entanglement in the line of a crab pot this afternoon in the Delaware Bay.

After they were notified at about 11 a.m. that the dolphin, described by those on scene as being about 10 feet long and weighing upwards of 600 pounds, was entangled in the line, boat crews were launched aboard a Coast Guard Station Townsend Inlet rescue boat and two state police boats.

One of the state police boats also carried Jay Pagel, senior field technician from Brigantine Marine Mammal Stranding Center. Once crews were able to get a hold of the dolphin, and they had the animal alongside one of the state police boats, Pagel cut away the line to free the animal and it swam away.