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Crews Resume Search for Entangled Whale Off Palos Verdes Coast

The Marine Animal Rescue said the search mission would continue Saturday and rescue efforts would resume once the whale was located.

Crews resumed efforts Saturday to find a blue whale that was trapped in a fishing net off the coast of Palos Verdes.

The troubled whale was first spotted by a whale-watching boat around 1 p.m. Friday, waiting for hours until help arrived.

"These whales are extremely hardy animals, but it is definitely in distress and it definitely needs to get that line free,” said Harbor Breeze Cruises Dan Salas, who first spotted the entangled whale.

Officials said the whale had about 200 feet of rope with two orange buoys attached and trailing behind.

After hours spent at sea, crews from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Coast Guard suspended rescue efforts Friday night due to darkness and rough seas.

The Marine Animal Rescue said the search mission would continue Saturday and rescue efforts would resume once the whale was located.

The 75-foot whale was last seen moving three to four knots west but had been going south and east, according to Capt. Dave Anderson of the Dolphin, Safari Whale Rescue. Anderson believed the whale would be within 40 miles of Pt. Fermin by Saturday.

Officials are concerned the whale will die before they can get to it.

Rescuers are asking for the public to report any sightings of the whale to (877) SOS-WHALE.

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