MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Some Stranded Marine Animal Rescue Team (Smart) volunteers rescued a yearling seal entangled in fishing line on the Second Beach in Dana Bay, Mossel Bay, yesterday morning, 22 August.

Smart committee member Val Marsh said the organisation had received a call from a beach-goer at about 09:00, who said they had spotted a seal on Second Beach, but they thought it merely seemed to be resting. 

Marsh said they received another call just before 11:00 from another beach-goer who had a better view of the seal, and this person reported it was actually entangled in some fishing line.

Experienced Smart volunteer Mario Ellis rushed out to search for the seal, finding it near some rocks. It was badly entangled in the fishing line, which even had a sinker still attached to it. The seal was also extremely emaciated.

“We don’t know how long it had been dragging that line for, but it was so embedded in the skin, especially around the neck, that the skin had started to grow over it,” said Marsh.

Ellis managed to capture the seal safely, and he was met by another Smart volunteer, Elzan Coetzee. Together, they rushed the seal, which Marsh said is a yearling, between one and two years old, to the Hartenbos Animal Hospital, where it is currently being treated.

“The public really are our eyes and ears. We appreciate everyone who calls in marine animals in distress. Thank you,” Marsh said.

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