Ghost Net Victim

Alvaro Herrero López's Image

Álvaro Herrero López (Mexico) reveals the devastating result of a whale entangled in discarded fishing gear.

A rope had bitten so deeply into the humpback whale’s tail that it could not dive, navigate or feed properly.

Alvaro came across this starving whale off Baja California and freed it from the ropes. Despite his efforts, the whale struggled to reach the surface to breathe as its tail was “completely useless”. Its life couldn’t be saved.

It’s thought that at least 300,000 whales and dolphins are killed by ghost nets, ropes and buoys every year.

The Global Whale Entanglement Response Network aims to prevent whale entanglements and trains people in how to help whales that get tangled.

Behind the lens

Alvaro Herrero López

Mexico

Alvaro has always been fascinated by nature in all its forms. At the age of five his grandfather gave him his first set of fins, mask and snorkel and he never looked back. He started experimenting with photography when he was eight years old using his father’s old camera. Álvaro has worked as a diving instructor, commercial diver, diving equipment repair and maintenance technician, boat skipper and underwater photographer. He’s also an underwater photography coach at all levels and has taught underwater photography masterclasses around the world. He’s now working in Mexico as a cave photographer.

Image details

  • Nikon D500
  • Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 lens at 10mm
  • 1/320 at f6.3  •   ISO 200  •   Isotta housing
  • Pacific Ocean, Baja California, Mexico
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