While out fishing near Owls Head, Maine, one commercial fisherman caught something unexpected—a young harbor seal pup.

Spotting the mass of mammal and fishing rope floating in the water, the fisherman quickly hauled it up, eager to cut the animal free. Using a small knife to cut through the mass of green ropes, the man was eventually able to free the animal.

The fisherman then lowered the seal gently into the water.

Harbor seals in this region are born during April and May and nurse for four to six weeks, meaning the young seal had likely just weaned from its mother.

After video of the seal's rescue was posted on Facebook, it quickly earned a bevy of comments and shares