A mother humpback whale and her calf were recently spotted in Hervey Bay, still entangled in shark nets they dragged more than 100 kilometres from Rainbow Beach, in a case that Humane World for Animals Australia says highlights the urgent need to remove the devices from Queensland waters.
The whales were first caught in nets off Rainbow Beach, and according to information from a whale watching charter business in Hervey Bay, who were informed by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI), both whales were disentangled and swimming freely on 16 September.
The following day, on 17 September, another mature humpback whale and calf were reported caught in shark nets off Noosa, prompting a dangerous overnight rescue. The calf, at serious risk of drowning, was freed following a delicate operation conducted under darkness.
While the second pair was also eventually freed, the DPI confirmed they may still be carrying pieces of netting.
Humane World for Animals Australia Marine Biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said the ordeal will leave lasting effects.
“We were relieved to hear this morning that authorities took swift action to free one mother and calf pair of whales from the net overnight; however, this event will have a traumatising and lasting impact on these whales,” Mr Chlebeck said last Thursday.
“The struggle and precious energy expended will impact their ability to reach their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean this summer,” Mr Chlebeck said.
He said two mother-and-calf entanglements in such a short time demonstrated the urgent need for reform.
“We’ve now seen two instances of mother and calf pairs caught in shark nets … We’re calling on the Queensland Government to stop pretending that these useless and destructive shark nets benefit public safety. They must finally take action and remove shark nets from the state’s waters before we see further tragedies unfold.”
Queensland’s shark control program currently maintains 27 nets on beaches in the state’s southeast, as well as 383 drumlines stretching from the New South Wales border north to Cairns.
A statement from Humane World for Animals Australia believes shark nets are not barriers and cannot prevent shark bites and states the 150-metre-long fishing nets, installed about 500 metres off beaches year-round, are designed to entangle and kill sharks but have been known to trap whales, dolphins, and other harmless marine life.
