Whale snared in Queensland nets freed (Australia)

July 26^th, 2013. Rescuers have successfully freed a humpback whale caught in shark nets off Noosa in southeast Queensland.

The net was wrapped around its pectoral fin and tail.

A rescue team from Queensland’s Boating and Fisheries Patrol managed to cut the nine metre long mammal free.

Queensland Shark Control program manager Jeff Krause says it was a successful rescue.

“Throughout the release the whale was relatively calm and was near the surface, which meant it could breathe easily,” he said.

“Once it was released, it swam easily away.”

It is the first whale this migration season to be caught in shark nets in Queensland.

Since 2000, 34 whales have been caught in shark nets in Queensland.

Three of the whales died.

The Australian Marine Conservation Society says the latest whale entanglement was a reminder that the state government’s shark control program is unacceptable.

AMCS director Darren Kindleysides says the nets should be removed either permanently or during the whale migration season.

“Nets are removed in New South Wales during winter and Queensland needs to follow suit,” he said.

“Shark nets pay a heavy toll on threatened species including turtles, dolphins, dugong and whales.”

He said sharks can swim over and around the nets, with research showing some 40% of sharks caught are on the beach side of the nets.

Source