Annette the seal survives gillnet entanglement after dramatic rescue

A young harbour seal named Annette has been rescued after becoming trapped in a gillnet off the coast of West Vancouver. The animal was spotted by a concerned member of the public and freed last Thursday. Her injuries were severe, but vets are now treating her at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society.

Annette's ordeal began when the net cut deeply into her neck, likely over weeks or even months. Though the wound missed her trachea, blood vessels, and oesophagus, she was too weak to feed and became dangerously thin. At just half the weight of a healthy seal her age, she was born last summer and had struggled to survive.

Dr. Martin Haulena, the head veterinarian at the rescue centre, treated her with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, disinfectants, and pain relief. The team expects her to remain in care for another four to six weeks before being released back into the wild.

This isn't Annette's first rescue. Earlier in January 2026, members of Seenotrettung e.V. freed her from a prawn trap off Schleswig-Holstein's Baltic coast. Bycatch and entanglement in marine debris remain persistent problems, with fishing industries working to reduce such incidents. The Vancouver Aquarium's rescue team alone handles over 300 marine animal emergencies each year, often tracking trapped animals for months before they can safely intervene.

Annette's recovery will take time, but her progress so far has been positive. Once fully rehabilitated, she will be returned to her natural habitat. The case highlights the ongoing risks marine wildlife face from discarded or lost fishing gear.