Video: Sea World and Department of Fisheries rescuers successfully rescue whale off Tweed coast
The mammoth two-day effort to free a whale trapped in shark nets off the Tweed coast has finally come to an end. WHAT HAPPENED >>>
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THE mammoth two-day effort to free a whale trapped in shark nets in waters off the Tweed coast has come to an end.
A Queensland Department of Fisheries spokesman confirmed late Thursday afternoon that the sub adult whale had been freed after an almost 22-hour mission.
“The Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol’s Marine Animal Release Team (MART) has successfully removed more shark control equipment from a whale that became entangled off Coolangatta,” he said.
It was the result many hoped for but feared was unlikely after rescue efforts were suspended on early Wednesday evening due to lack of light.
Sea World and the Queensland Department of Fisheries rescuers resumed the delicate operation to free the animal measuring eight metres long at first light on Thursday morning.
The whale was on the move overnight and tracked to about 30 nautical miles off the coast.
Shark Control Program Manager Michael Mikitis said this outcome was achieved with the support of Sea World and followed yesterday’s day-long effort.
“This has been a significant joint operation out at sea over two days involving multiple vessels and crews. We did not give up and stayed with the moving whale throughout today while cutting away a lot of the remaining gear before nightfall,” he said.
“Tens of thousands of whales migrate along our coast every year. Last year, there were just six whales entangled and all were successfully released.
“We are now nearing the end of the whale migration season and this is the first whale entangled this year.”
A Seaworld spokesman said not all of the netting was able to be removed, but the whale was not impeded.
“A small portion of the equipment was unable to be removed,” the spokesman said.
“However the whale was able to swim freely and after monitoring it for a period of time we left it to continue on its journey.”
Fisheries told the Bulletin on Thursday that 36 whales have become entangled on the Coast since 2011 and 34 were released from shark netting alive. Two whales have died.
EARLIER
FOOTAGE has emerged of a humpback whale wrapped in shark netting miles off the Tweed coast after the massive marine mammal was first discovered in trouble at Snapper Rocks on Wednesday.
Sea World and the Queensland Department of Fisheries rescuers resumed the operation to free the subadult animal measuring eight metres long on Thursday morning.
The whale was on the move overnight and tracked to about 30 nautical miles off the coast.
Sea World head of marine sciences Wayne Phillips said the whale appeared “lethargic” on the first day of the rescue and rescuers were “quite surprised at how far he travelled overnight”.
“That’s a good sign from a whale perspective, but it may make our job harder,” he said.
“The more energy the whale has, the more difficult it is to work with him.”
The Bulletin has sought an update on the rescue from both organisations.
Meanwhile, Fisheries provided statistics about whale entanglements on the Coast – and confirmed the Queensland government has “no plan to remove shark control nets or drumlines from state controlled waters”.
It was stated 36 whales have become entangled on the Coast since 2011 and 34 were released from shark netting alive. Two whales have died.
One whale perished after it became caught in the Bilinga shark net in 2014, while a second died after it became caught in the Kurrawa net in 2017.
The Kurrawa incident involved the entanglement of two whales – an adult was released alive, but one calf died.
Mr Furner said: “The Palaszczuk Government will always put human life and human safety first with its Shark Control Program.”
“That’s why we are investing $1 million per year on innovation and improvements to the Shark Control Program, including drone trials on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and in North Queensland.
“We are committed to continual improvement, but changes will not be made until effective alternatives suitable to Queensland conditions are identified and supported by the science.”
The government has been investigating shark barriers, electronic shark deterrents and “catch-alert” drumlines.
The Bulletin has reported on a string of whale entrapments in shark nets on the Coast in recent times.
A Change.org petition to “Stop whale entanglements” on the Coast has been signed by more than 134,250 people.
‘Emotional’ rescue: Tangled whale now 30 nautical miles off coast
Earlier: Rescuers have been gearing up to hit the water again to try and save a humpback whale tangled in shark netting, which has made its way 30 nautical miles off the Tweed coast.
The Sea World and Department of Fisheries operation to free the subadult marine mammal was suspended on Wednesday night due to low light.
It’s resuming on Thursday morning and rescuers were readying to venture out on boats at about 7.10am. It will take rescuers quite a while to reach the whale in boats.
Sea World head of marine sciences Wayne Phillips said the tough rescue operation has been “emotional”.
“We were with the animal for more than 10 hours out there and the weather wasn’t great,” he said.
“Unfortunately we weren’t able to get all the equipment removed.
“Trying to help an animal that large is very difficult and emotional.”
A satellite tracker has been attached to the whale and will help rescuers locate the tangled animal, which measures eight metres long.
“Due to poor light, a satellite tracker was deployed to the whale to attempt the operation today,” a Sea World statement read.
The humpback was first sighted off Snapper Rocks on the southern Gold Coast on Wednesday morning, “entangled in shark control equipment”, according to Sea World.
Rescuers spent all day Wednesday working to free the animal.
‘Heartbreaking sounds’: Whale rescue suspended
August 11: Rescue crews have been forced to suspend their efforts to free a whale caught in shark nets in waters off the Southern Gold Coast due to lack of daylight.
A Sea World spokesman confirmed late Wednesday afternoon – about eight hours after rescue efforts began – that the mission would continue into the next morning.
“The Sea World and Department of Fisheries team will recommence efforts to disentangle shark control equipment off a subadult humpback whale off Fingal Beach at first light tomorrow,” he said.
“After being alerted to the whale early Wednesday morning, both teams spent all day trying collaboratively to remove the equipment but despite their best efforts were unsuccessful with the equipment remaining heavily entangled around the tail.
“With the teams losing light, a satellite tracker was deployed to the whale to allow teams to relocate it and continue the efforts tomorrow morning.”
Beachgoers first spotted the sub adult humpback whale stuck in a net at Snapper Rocks about 7am. Officers from Sea World and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have been trying to free the whale since about 8am, but their efforts have proved in vain.
Beachgoer Laura Slogrove came across the scenes while on her morning walk at the popular surf break: “The sound he was making was so heartbreaking,” she said.
“Hopefully this one might get extra attention because it’s so close to shore, at a popular beach and it’s a visually distressing entanglement with all the buoys – the nets need to go.”
Vision of the rescue showing the whale still “heavily entangled” in the netting while swimming in circles.
A second whale later appeared in what one expert described as a likely attempt to check in on the distressed mammal: “We have had several whales come over and check it out throughout the day,” the Sea World spokesman said.
Chairman of Destination Gold Coast Paul Donovan was reluctant to comment on the matter, however, said he was in favour of the nets despite calls to have them removed.
“We can’t afford to have a shark attack on the Gold Coast,” Mr Donovan said.
EARLIER
August 11: A whale has become trapped in shark nets off a popular Gold Coast beach.
It is understood beachgoers spotted the whale stuck in a net at Snapper Rocks about 7am.
Sea World and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries have been trying to free the whale.
A Sea World spokesman said it was a sub adult humpback whale and was heavily entangled.
Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck told the Bulletin: “Year after year we see the same thing.
“Shark nets entangle exhausted humpback whales in the middle of marathon migrations.
“Scientists and experts employed by Queensland’s Shark Control Program have told the Minister the shark nets should be removed during whale migration season.
“Why isn’t the Minister heeding the advice of his experts?”
Griffith University whale expert Dr Olas Meynecke said there were no shark nets at Snapper Rocks and it was likely the whale became entangled elsewhere.
“There’s normally no nets at Snapper, so I have no idea where it’s picked it up, that’s probably the reason why it’s so wrapped up,” Dr Olaf said.
“It’s fully entangled in nets, it looks terrible.
Dr Olaf said it was the first whale entanglement of the season. He said whales had been migrating further off shore this year which had reduced the risk of them getting caught in shark nets.
“This one was probably just a resting sub adult but for the last two and a half months they’ve been about 10km to 15km off shore. Obviously we’ve had a few odd ones close to shore, but nothing like we’ve seen in previous years.”
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