Dolphin freed from fishing line in Florida's Indian River Lagoon | FOX 51 Gainesville
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Dolphin freed from fishing line in Florida's Indian River Lagoon

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Published  May 27, 2025 12:21am EDT
Brevard County
FOX 35 Orlando
Dolphin freed from fishing line in Indian River Lagoon

Dolphin freed from fishing line in Indian River Lagoon

A dolphin once tangled in fishing line in the Indian River Lagoon is now swimming free, according to wildlife experts, bringing a wave of relief to the community and researchers who had been searching for weeks.

The Brief

    • A dolphin tangled in fishing line earlier this spring has been spotted swimming freely.
    • Wildlife officials confirm the animal is no longer in distress, though scars remain.
    • The outcome offers rare hope for the ongoing threat of marine debris entanglements.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - A dolphin once tangled in a fishing line in the Indian River Lagoon is now swimming free, according to wildlife experts, bringing a wave of relief to the community and researchers who had been searching for weeks.

What we know:

New video evidence confirms the animal is no longer in distress and appears to be healthy, though it bears scars where the fishing line was embedded.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear exactly how the dolphin freed itself. No one witnessed the entanglement being removed, and researchers can only speculate that the fishing gear may have caught on a rock or piling, allowing the animal to struggle free.

The backstory:

The dolphin was first reported in late March by boater Sean Beard in Sikes Creek. His early warning prompted a widespread search by wildlife officials, who scoured nearly 40 miles of waterways looking for the injured animal. Despite their efforts, weeks went by without a confirmed sighting.

Race to save dolphin with tail trapped in fishing line

Race to save dolphin with tail trapped in fishing line

The community’s rallying to save a dolphin in distress! Its tail is trapped in fishing line and people are worried time is running out before its tail could be gone for good. FOX 35's Stephanie Rivas speaks with Sean Beard, the man that has been trying to save the dolphin.

Big picture view:

Entanglements in marine debris, such as fishing lines, pose a growing threat to dolphins and other marine life. Successful outcomes like this are rare and offer hope—but they also highlight the importance of public vigilance and rapid reporting.

What they're saying:

Sean Beard ran along a sea wall two weeks ago grabbing some videos when he first saw a struggling dolphin swimming below the wall.

"I don’t like to see no animal suffer like that," said Sean Beard, a local fishermen who captured video of the dolphin.

STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO:

The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and boater Sean Beard.

Brevard CountyWild NatureNews