Entangled whales reignites shark nets on the Gold Coast

THE proposed removal of shark nets during whale migration season has spouted a swimmer safety issue with possible shark attacks a real possibility.

THE Gold Coast’s surf lifesaving boss has dismissed calls for shark nets to be removed during the whale migration season.

Sea World Director of Marine Sciences Trevor Long made the call after a whale and her calf had to be freed from nets at Miami yesterday.

Sea World rescuers arrived on scene after the whales were spotted around 6.30am and worked to free the pair.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol acting district manager Mark Saul said it was a straightforward rescue.

“There was a little bit of entanglement,” he said.

“A few cuts and with a bit of perseverance ... we were able to get them away.”

Sea World performed a whale rescue off the Coast at Miami today.

Eight whales have been trapped in nets so far this year and Mr Long warned there could be more.

He said only some of the shark nets needed be removed to ensure a safe passage for the whales and their young during the busy whale migration season between May and November.

“I don’t believe this would impact swimmer safety at all, and would only help to prevent more whales getting trapped in the nets,” he said.

“It can be dangerous freeing whales trapped in the nets as they can easily become quite agitated.

“Especially if it involves a calf — a mother can interpret that behaviour as a threat to her calf, and that’s when it can become dangerous for the crews.

“Luckily the whales ... at Miami were calm so it (the rescue) went well.”

Sea World performed a whale rescue off the Coast at Miami today.

Sea Shepherd’s Jonathan Clark backed Mr Long’s call for the removal of nets.

“It is a ridiculous situation where on the one hand we have government ministers claiming the nets and drum lines are required for tourism and yet the multimillion-dollar whale-watching industry which relies on these whales is completely unsupportive of shark nets,” he said.

“There is an obligation to protect these and other marine fauna.”

World Animal Protection described the nets as “indiscriminate death traps”.

But Gold Coast Surf Lifesaving co-ordinator Nathan Fife rejected the calls, saying shark nets were a vital safety measure.

“We haven’t had a fatal shark attack since the nets went in decades ago, so they are important in keeping the public safe,” he said.
“It’s a priority to keep visitors and swimmers safe when they are in the water, so removing the nets would be an issue the State Government would have to consider.”

Environment Minister Steven Miles told the Gold Coast Bulletin in June that the nets should stay.

There has not been a shark attack fatality off Gold Coast beaches since 1962.

Yesterday’s rescue was not the first rescue of the season with a whale rescued earlier this month and one in July.

In July a baby whale died after being trapped in nets off Kurrawa.