Sea World Rescue Team frees whale caught in shark nets at Currumbin on Gold Coast

Sea World’s rescue team has freed another whale as fresh calls have been made to remove shark nets protecting beachgoers.

Sea World’s rescue team has freed another whale as fresh calls have been made to remove controversial shark nets.

The theme park’s communications manager Mitchell Olivey said the Sea World Rescue Team responded to reports a whale was stuck in the nets at Currumbin.

A rescue team made their way out to investigate at about 8am, he said.

Mr Olivey said the team had freed an adult humpback from the nets off of the Coast by 8.55am.

It comes after three whales were caught in shark nets on the Coast last month, triggering fresh calls to remove the controversial shark mitigation gear.

A whale trapped in the nets of Kirra on July 8. Picture: Sea World

Sea Shepherd defence campaigner Johnathan Clark said whales getting caught in the shark nets was an “ongoing nightmare”.

“Enough is enough,” he said.

“Eight whales caught on Queensland’s cruel shark culling equipment in less than three months is a nightmarish beginning to the whale migration season.”

Mr Clark said it was time for the “outdated” and “ineffective” nets to be replaced by modern alternatives.

“How many more whale’s lives have to be risked at the hands of the Queensland Government?” he said.

Further, Sea Shepherd Australia’s threatened and endangered species campaigner Lauren Sandeman said Queensland should mirror the New South Wales government, after shark nets were removed from the whale migratory path in 1980.

“Shark nets and drum lines do not improve beachgoer safety, so they need to be removed from our beaches permanently and replaced with one of the myriad alternatives that do,” she said.

A juvenile Humpback whale caught in a shark net off Queensland's Gold Coast.

Ms Sandeman said Queensland “continually refuses” to remove nets “against their own advice” and described the situation as “an absolute disgrace”.

Last month, Mr Clark shared similar sentiments after three whales became tangled and said it was “time for these cruel and deadly nets to come out”.

“This year’s whale migration season has only just begun and already more whales have become entangled in these useless shark nets than in the entirety of 2021,” he said.

“These whales are yet to make a return trip to Antarctica where they will have to run this gauntlet again.”

Last week, veteran Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens said Labor wanted to appease the Greens by removing shark nets.

The Palaszczuk government strongly denied the claims, but did reveal the state has been exploring new measures to safeguard the public.

The government has previously and repeatedly highlighted the need to protect swimmers, surfers and other beachgoers, particularly in tourism hot spots.

Mr Stevens said he wanted shark nets off the beaches of Mermaid Beach, Nobby Beach, Miami and North Burleigh to remain in place.

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