This is the moment a Canadian fisherman and his friends saved a sea lion pup who was trapped in a large ball of fishing nets.

The clip, filmed in April 2015 in Canada, shows the moment a group of fishermen spotted a small sea lion struggling to survive after becoming trapped in a large ball of discarded commercial fishing nets.

The filmer, Ken Hobbs told Newsflare: “We noticed this little guy tangled up in the mess. Not able to swim properly or submerge, he was just floating along with this large mat of commercial fishing net around its neck.

“Taking him to shore wasn't an option with the steep rock walls and we were about an hour run at near full speed from the fishing lodge. We had to bring him on board and cut the netting off.

“After getting it free, it seemed to understand we meant it no harm and appeared happy to hang around on the bow of the boat for a bit. Rather than take a chance of it entering the boat further, where it would not be able to exit on its own and could panic and again present a risk of bite contact with one of us.

“After forcing it back into the water, it did a couple of barrel rolls, stopped for a look back at us and swam away. It was happy and so were we!”

Out on a fishing trip at a remote location (helicoptered in) in Haida Gwaii, BC we spotted what we first thought was a large ball of commercial fishing net floating in the water. When we came alongside it, intending to take it out of the water, we noticed this little guy (what we think is a Sea Lion Pup) tangled up in the mess. Not able to swim properly or submerge, he was just floating along with this large mat of commercial fishing net around its neck. He would try float a bit and then struggle to roll to its side to breath and return to floating. The large mat of net arounds its neck prevented it from lifting its head out of the water to breath without rolling on its side. We pulled up all the gear and reached out to snag the netting with the gaff. Taking him to shore wasn't an option with the steep rock walls and we were about an hour run at near full speed from the fishing lodge. We had to bring him on board and cut the netting off. He wasn't very happy when we first got him next to the boat. The video doesn't show it well, but in addition to pushing off with its flipper, it was biting at the boast. We left it floating at the side of the boat for a bit to let it calm a bit. Bringing it on board, we proceeded cautiously. It wasn't a frightening event for us, but since we were in a remote area, even a small bite from the bacteria laden teeth meant having to get a helicopter to fly in and flying out for medical attention. As well, we wanted to proceed deliberately and calmly to try to lower the stress this pup was under. He was already distressed, we didn't want to add to that, if at all possible. After getting it free, it seemed to understand we meant it no harm and appeared happy to hang around on the bow of the boat for a bit. Rather than take a chance of it entering the boat further, where it would not be able to exit on its own and could panic and again present a risk of bite contact with one of us. We felt it best, for its and our best interest, to encourage him back into the water. After forcing it back into the water, it did a couple barrel rolls, stopped for a look back at us and swam away. It was happy and so were we.