The sperm whale was entangled in fishing gear: vast amounts of lost fishing equipment in the world's oceans.

It was an 11.9-kilogram fishing net that took the life of the large whale that stranded over the weekend in Aalbæk.

The nearly 20-ton sperm whale was examined post-mortem on Thursday. (Photo: © René Schütze, Fotograf René Schütze/Ritzau Scanpix)

There is a need to collect the many lost fishing nets in the oceans.

That is the message from the chairman of the North Nature association, after experts yesterday confirmed that it was indeed a fishing net that caused the death of the sperm whale that stranded on Saturday at Aalbæk in North Jutland.

"It is sad that a whale should strand before we open our eyes to the problems in our seas," says chairman Jesper Appel Jensen.

The net was found during the post-mortem examination on Thursday, and here you can hear tow holder Charlotte Bie Thøstesen explain more:

When the whale was examined post-mortem on Thursday, experts found an 11.9-kilogram fishing net that was lodged in its esophagus (link).

North Nature works to collect the so-called ghost nets—lost fishing gear that pollutes the seas and poses a threat to marine life.

Even though we cannot be certain that the whale swallowed a ghost net, there is much to suggest it, says Jesper Appel Jensen.

* This is where the large sperm whale stranded on Saturday at Aalbæk beach. (Photo: © Claus Bjørn Larsen, Ritzau Scanpix)

* This was the 11.9-kilogram fishing net found in the whale’s esophagus. (Photo: © René Schütze, Fotograf René Schütze/Ritzau Scanpix)

* It took a great deal of effort when the large animal was examined post-mortem on Thursday. (Photo: © René Schütze, Fotograf René Schütze/Ritzau Scanpix)

1 / 3 This is where the large sperm whale stranded on Saturday at Aalbæk beach. (Photo: © Claus Bjørn Larsen, Ritzau Scanpix)

2 / 3 This was the 11.9-kilogram fishing net found in the whale’s esophagus. (Photo: © René Schütze, Fotograf René Schütze/Ritzau Scanpix)

3 / 3 It took a great deal of effort when the large animal was examined post-mortem on Thursday. (Photo: © René Schütze, Fotograf René Schütze/Ritzau Scanpix)

"We have many examples of manatees, seals, or diving ducks getting entangled in nets and drowning. In this case, the net has destroyed the whale’s digestive system, resulting in a slow and extremely painful death by starvation," he says.

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Efforts already underway

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The death of the sperm whale has brought new attention to the issue of ghost nets. However, significant efforts are already being made to remove them from the seas.

Read also: Thousands of ghost nets give fish and marine animals a long and painful death (link).

Many nets have been retrieved from both Limfjord and Lillebælt. The plan is to make an effort in larger waters such as Kattegat and Skagerrak.

"I actually think something is happening. The government has acknowledged the problem and is taking action," says Jesper Appel Jensen.

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Our oceans are struggling

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He has faith that the threat from ghost nets can be eliminated.

"With changes in attitude and strong participation from civil society, I am confident that we can address this issue."

Jesper Appel Jensen emphasizes, however, that there are many other problems threatening our global oceans that also need to be considered.

"Our seas are simply not doing well, and the large mammals are suffering from it. This is just one of many problems," he says.

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