A humpback whale rescued after an entanglement on Tuesday morning off a popular Australian beach has prompted conservationists to push for the removal of shark nets during migration.
Crews are working to free a humpback whale caught in nets off the Gold Coast.
It is believed the call came in on Monday night about the whale being stuck off Mermaid Beach.
Sea World and Fisheries are on the scene frantically working to zip-tie the other net.
It is the first sighting of the whale watching season where more than 40,000 of the species are expected to pass along a stretch of ocean known as ‘Humpback Highway’.
A sub-adult humpback whale was first reported caught in shark nets on the Gold Coast, near Mermaid Beach, on Monday night.
SeaWorld and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries rushed out to the waters at daylight the on Tuesday morning to untangle the whale.
Authorities were able to successfully rescue the distressed humpback, before reportedly zip-tying the shark nets to ensure it did not happen again.
Authorities on Tuesday morning successfully rescued a humpback whale trapped in shark nets near Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied
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The Humane Society International Australia and the Australian Marine Conservation Society said in a joint statement it was time to remove shark nets during migration.
“Every single year we see the same predictable and avoidable story play out over and over again,” marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said on Tuesday.
“Migrating humpback whales swimming along the SE Qld coast have to dodge and weave past 27 lethal shark nets and inevitably some are entangled.”
Conservationists campaigning to permanently remove shark nets from east coast beaches
Mr Chlebeck added the whales often become stressed when trapped in the nets and lose a lot of energy needed to travel through “humpback highways”.
“Even if freed alive, there’s no guarantee they’ll survive the traumatic ordeal,” he said.
About 40,000 whales travel from the rich-food areas of Antarctica through to south-eastern Queensland and onto tropical waters in northern Australia to breed.
Whales can travel as far as 10,000 kilometres.
Other marine life have also become victims of the shark nets. Pictured is a dead dolphin entangled in mesh. Picture: Drone Shark App
Humane Society International Australia said on social media there had been 13 whales trapped in nets in 2022, which is the most of any year. Picture: Patrick Woods
Humane Society International Australia added on social media that 13 whales became trapped in nets in 2022, the most of any year.
Activists have been warning the number of whales becoming trapped, along with other marine life who encounter the nets, will likely increase.
Sea Shepherd defence campaigner Jonathan Clark said in July “enough is enough” and it was time for the “outdated” and “ineffective” shark nets to be removed.
“How many more whale’s lives have to be risked at the hands of the Queensland government?” he said.
SkyNews.com.au has contacted the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for comment on the incident and if shark nets were being re-assessed.