Qld’s Fisheries Department defends shark nets amid trapped whale worries (Australia)

July 29^th, 2013 (Lucinda Kent). The Department of Fisheries says the use of shark nets along the Queensland coast is justified, despite whales getting caught in them.

A humpback whale was caught in shark nets off Noosa on the Sunshine Coast on Friday and freed by department staff.

Acting director of shark control Mark Saul says the department will continue to use the nets off 85 Queensland beaches.

“That’s the first whale that we’ve had trapped in the shark nets this year,” he said.

“In 2012 we only had two and there was only one in 2011.

“Between marine animal release team staff and also our contractors, we release any catch that occurs as quickly as possible and in general most are released alive.”

However, Australian Marine Conservation Society director Darren Kindleysides says the nets are a threat to all marine life and should be removed during whale migration season.

“Shark nets don’t just catch sharks as we’ve seen – they catch whales but also other threatened species like turtles and dugongs,” he said.

“Really, shark nets do pay a quite high toll on marine life.”

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