Bryde’s Whale Found Dead After Tangling in Fishing Net

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

A Bryde’s whale has been found dead off the coast of Koh Larn in Chonburi province after becoming entangled in a fishing net. The large decomposing carcass was discovered floating about one nautical mile from Sangwan Beach, emitting a strong odour across the area. Marine authorities have launched an operation to recover the remains and determine the exact cause of death.

The incident was first reported to authorities at around 08:00 on 4 November 2025 after local boat operators notified media outlets. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, identifying the whale’s species was initially difficult. However, experts from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) later confirmed it was likely a Bryde’s whale, a fairly rare and protected species in the Gulf of Thailand.

Further investigation revealed that the whale had first been sighted three days earlier, on 1 November, by fisherman Weerawim Nantawech, aged 39, while squid fishing between Koh Rang Kwian and Koh Ped. He recorded a video showing the whale’s body, roughly four metres long, wrapped tightly in a fine-mesh fishing net with float ropes attached. Weerawim posted the clip to his Facebook page, expressing regret over the incident and condemning irresponsible fishing practices.

Weerawim said he believed the whale had become trapped in a net used by a small fishing boat that was illegally trawling in the area. He added that the animal may have died after struggling to free itself. “It’s a real loss,” he wrote. “If fishermen had reported the entanglement sooner, the whale might have survived.”

The DMCR and the Chonburi Provincial Fisheries Department confirmed that they had begun efforts to retrieve the carcass, which is still drifting near Koh Larn. The agencies plan to conduct a full autopsy to confirm the cause of death and assess whether fishing equipment violations contributed to the incident.

Authorities have also coordinated with local fisheries to prevent similar cases by emphasising the use of legal fishing gear and promoting the protection of endangered marine species in Thai waters.

Key Takeaways

• A decomposing Bryde’s whale was found off Koh Larn, believed to have died after being trapped in a fishing net.

• The carcass was first spotted on 1 November by a fisherman who reported it to authorities.

• Marine agencies are working to recover the whale and investigate to prevent similar incidents.

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  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Thairath 2025-11-05