Seal Frees Itself From Discarded Ropes Off Northumberland Coast, England

Underwater cameraman Ben Burville captured the moment a male grey seal freed itself after becoming entangled in abandoned fishing gear while swimming in the Farne Islands off the coast of Northumberland, England, on August 23. Burville told Storyful the rope is from a lobster pot line and explained that plastics and lost or discarded fishing kits can be seriously hazardous to marine life. “In this case, the male grey seal was obviously experienced and skillful at managing the ropes and escaped but I have had to rescue other seals that have become entangled and trapped,” said Burville. The video shows the seal wiggling in the water to free itself from the ropes. Credit: Ben Burville via Storyful