Humpback whale dies off the coast of Oman

Sur: A humpback whale lost its struggle for life as it battled fishing nets off the beach of the Wilayat of Sur recently.

The mammal was among endangered species of whales inhabiting the sea area near Oman’s eastern coast on the Arab Gulf.

Such small isolated species of whales face different forms of hazards, including entanglement in fishing nets off the coasts along Oman, Pakistan and India.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources stressed the need to protect whales, turtles, dolphins and other mammals and seabirds.

The hunting of these mammals, marine animals and birds is banned under the Ministry’s marine organism protection law, which imposes heavy penalties against violators.