Gold Coast marine expert says “shark nets are outdated” as second whale is caught in the nets in a month

A SECOND whale has been caught in a Gold Coast shark net in a month and marine experts question welfare of sea life with the continuation of nets on beaches

MARINE experts are questioning the use of shark nets across Gold Coast beaches after a second calf whale was trapped in the nets this month.

A two-week-old baby humpback whale was found trapped by its head in waters at Burleigh Beach on Saturday and was rescued and expected to make a full recovery.

Shark nets were first put in place in waters around the Gold Coast in 1962 to keep swimmers safe.

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However in recent years many marine experts have said the nets should be removed.

Sea World director of marine sciences Trevor Long said they were an outdated method and questioned the impact on marine species’ welfare.

“What we are using now has been trapping marine animals since 1962 and it’s old technology,” he said.

Sea World Marine Rescue work to free a baby humpback whale stuck in shark nets off Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied.

“We lose a lot of marine life and the animals suffer terrible deaths.”

Locals spotted the latest trapped baby whale around 5am and called authorities.

Drone footage taken by Blaze Parsons shows the mother whale in distress as the calf is trapped by its head.

The removal of the baby whale from the nets took around 30 minutes and it was released about 7am, according to Mr Long.

“It did appear to have some abrasions around it’s neck,” Mr Long said.

“It was nothing that would have impacted it’s future survival.”

Sea World Marine Rescue work to free a baby humpback whale stuck in shark nets off Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast over the weekend. Picture: Supplied.

Both whales swam away after the release and the net is yet to be replaced.

Mr Long said the two whales came in close to shore to calmer waters after a western wind change that happened over the weekend.

From January 1 to December 31, 2017 five humpback whales were caught in shark nets across the Gold Coast and were released alive.

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Authorities recorded 45 other creatures trapped in the nets, of which a quarter were found dead.

“There is an animal welfare issue that needs to be talked about more,” Mr Long said.

“There has been a lot of whales caught in the nets that we don’t know about because they have freed themselves. The problem is with that is we don’t know how much of the nets are taken with them.”

A breaching baby humpback whale — photo taken this morning off the Gold Coast Spit MUST taken by Sea World Whale Watch.

“Drone technology is wonderful, but we are not using them enough. The Surf Clubs should be using them.”

Currently there are 11 shark nets in the ocean around the Coast that are 186m long and 6m deep and there hasn’t been a shark attack fatality on the Coast since 1962.