Humpback rescue underway in Massachusetts

(FOX NEWS) - A humpback whale rescue is underway off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts.

State environmental police say the humpback whale appears to be entangled in a line with a buoy or trap on it.

Rescue teams from the Center for Coastal Studies sent their vessel, the Thomas Paine, into the water in hopes of freeing the whale.  This afternoon, crews approached the whale on a smaller boat to get closer to it.

The effort has been underway for several hours.

You can follow the Center for Coastal Studies on Facebook for updates: https://www.facebook.com/coastalstudies/