‘Useless and destructive’: Noosa community outraged after humpback whales trapped in shark nets
Outrage is rippling through a local community after a mother and calf humpback whale were found trapped in shark nets, sparking calls for urgent action.
After shocking footage surfaced on Thursday, a string of whale entanglements has sparked outrage among locals, with mounting calls for the government to overhaul Queensland’s shark net program.
Two whales, a mother and her calf, were first seen caught in shark nets off Noosa on Wednesday, with the calf in grave danger of drowning.
Rescue efforts were delayed during the afternoon, with authorities initially deeming the operation too dangerous to attempt until nightfall.
The whales were finally freed about 11.45pm, but the calf seemed to have become more entangled during the seven-hour delay, raising concerns for its ongoing wellbeing.
Shockingly, on Friday there were reports of yet another whale entanglement on the Sunshine Coast.
Andre Borell, director of the documentary Envoy: Shark Cull, shared footage of a whale close to the shore in Marcoola.
“I understand it’s one, potentially two, unconfirmed whales that are actually caught in the (shark) net, and other whales hanging around, stressed,” he said.
He added that the whales could be heard breathing “very heavily” and were “very audible”.
A Sea Shepard Australia spokeswoman said the whale was later freed by a shark control program contractor.
“They promptly replaced the net with a new one,” the spokeswoman said.
The local community has since expressed outrage over the latest whale entanglement, with calls for change now spilling into action as a protest is being organised.
On social media, Noosa resident Madeleine Slug announced plans for a peaceful demonstration “for the whales and ocean life,” sharing her own personal connection to the issue.
She said her cousin, Chris Boyd, was tragically killed in a shark attack, which is remembered each year through the Boydy Cup at Marcoola.
“I am sure he wouldn’t have wanted the shark nets to be injuring and killing sea life,” Ms Slug said.
She urged others to comment, share ideas, and help organise the protest, which is being considered for the beginning of October outside the local council office.
An ongoing petition on Change.org, created in 2020 by Andre Borell to campaign against shark nets in Queensland and New South Wales, has also gained renewed attention in the wake of the recent whale entanglements. The petition has now surpassed 160,000 signatures.
On Thursday, the Humane World for Animals Australia called on the Queensland government and Premier David Crisafulli to act urgently, as it is the second mother-calf humpback pair to become entangled in shark nets within just days.
Humane World for Animals Australia marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said the ordeal could have lasting consequences for the whales.
“We were relieved to hear that authorities freed this mother and calf overnight, but the struggle and energy expended will impact their ability to reach their feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean this summer,” Mr Chlebeck said.
The organisation said the incident comes days after another mother-calf pair was caught in shark nets near Rainbow Beach. That pair had since been located in Hervey Bay after dragging the nets more than 100km.
The Sea Shepherd Australia spokeswoman said the pair were finally freed on Friday morning.
“The latest update we received was that (the) Marine Animal Rescue Team were finally able to release the mother whale from shark nets in Hervey Bay this morning, meaning she had been dragging it for potentially four days,” the spokeswoman said.
“We think this rescue was particularly tricky since she was mobile while dragging the net, and with her calf she would have been very cautious of any approaching vessels.”
Humane World for Animals Australia has called the nets “useless and destructive,” warning of further tragedies if the government does not remove them.
Queensland’s shark control program currently operates 27 culling nets along southeast beaches and 383 lethal drumlines from the New South Wales border to Cairns.
Designed to entangle and kill sharks, the nets are not barriers and are notorious for trapping harmless marine wildlife.
The recent entanglements come amid an $88m expansion of Queensland’s shark control program, which includes nets, drumlines and drones.
According to RSPCA Queensland, shark nets and drumlines in the state’s Shark Control Program captured 1639 marine animals in 2024 alone, with more than 980 dying, often from drowning or severe injuries sustained after entanglement. The victims included a wide range of non-target species such as dolphins, turtles, rays, and whales.
The Crisafulli Government said it had “prioritised beach goers’ safety” with the largest investment in Queensland’s Shark Control Program in the state’s history.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett told NewsWire the Crisafulli Government would “always put the safety of people above sharks”.
He said they had delivered the largest investment into shark management in the program’s history.
“This plan also funds the Marine Animal Rescue Team, highly trained specialists who provide rapid response to any entanglement,” Mr Perrett said
According to the government, about 45,000 whales are expected to migrate through Queensland waters this year, with an average of six becoming entangled.
The Shark Control Program has 25 officers dedicated to the Marine Animal Rescue Team, stationed between the Gold Coast and Mackay.
The government said their new Shark Control Management Plan 2025-29 promises to strike a balance between traditional equipment and nonlethal modern technology. It includes expanding whale-deterrent research, assessing new technologies, investing in marine release science, running shark population studies, refreshing its SharkSmart campaign, and doubling the size of the drone surveillance program from 10 to 20 locations.
While the government said these measures are to protect swimmers, conservationists say the program is outdated and dangerous for marine animals.
Jonathan Clark from Sea Shepherd Australia said the “lethal methods don’t protect people”.
“We need shark nets removed and to focus on modern technologies like drones and public education to make beaches safer without killing wildlife,” Mr Clark said.
Originally published as ‘Useless and destructive’: Noosa community outraged after humpback whales trapped in shark nets
