Seal has luck of the Irish

Shamrock the seal had netting wound around his neck. BY BRIAN G. PETERS

Melissa Steele

March 18, 2013

Shamrock breathes better without the netting wrapped around his neck. He was taken to Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, N.J., where experts believe he will make a full recovery. BY BRIAN G. PETERS

A 6-week-old gray seal pup entangled in fishing netting and mesh washed ashore this weekend near the Indian River Inlet bridge.

Named Shamrock by volunteers with Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute, the pup had trouble breathing because the netting was wrapped around his neck and had dug into his skin, said volunteer Rob Rector in a press release.

The net also had wrapped around a flipper and Shamrock could not use it to swim.

MERR removed the netting and sent Shamrock to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, N.J.

"There is no better feeling than to know we were able to alleviate an animal's suffering" said MERR Executive Director Suzanne Thurman.

To follow Shamrock's progress, go to MERR Institute on Facebook here or on Twitter here. If you spot a stranded marine mammal or sea turtle, call MERR at 228-5029.