Bathurst — A small group of concerned fishermen calling themselves the “Whale Whisperers” have formed an association devoted to providing endangered whales with access to emergency services.
The organization has already bought and installed several hundred feet of wire in the Gulf of Maine, which provide a direct feed to a call centre located in Bathurst.
“Nothing is more important than the safety and preservation of the North Atlantic right whale,” said Timothy Abrams, the fisherman who originally headed the project, “which is why we’ve established a direct line on which they can call us if they ever find themselves at risk.”
Abrams says that the organization gets up to 40 calls a day from whales in distress or danger. However, the high-tech polypropylene line of communication has not only provided local fishermen with a new way to protect the whales, but also… with a new way to love.
“I met Gloria over the fishing line,” said 28-year-old Justin Elder, proudly displaying picture of himself swimming with an attractive humpback. “She was just making a routine checkup call, and we just sort of hit it off.”
The Manatee was treated to a display of how this technology works when the phone rang while we were speaking to Abrams. He politely excused himself to pick up the receiver, and listened intently. Suddenly, his expression changed.
“WWOOOOAAAAAAAOOOHHHAAAAAOOOAAAWWWWWOOOOAAAH,” he replied solemnly before hanging up, grabbing his wet-suit and flinging open the cabin door.
“I’m sorry to have to cut this interview short,” he said, “but I’ve got a whale to save.”