Humpback whale and calf swim free from shark nets off Gold Coast
Underwater vision has captured a humpback whale and her calf swimming free after they were trapped in shark nets off the Gold Coast. WATCH THE VIDEO
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Uunderwater vision of a mother and baby whale which were trapped in shark nets off the Gold Coast has been revealed as animal welfare groups slam the Queensland government’s shark control program.
The Sea World Rescue team were called to what they thought was a single whale snared in the nets off Surfers Paradise on Thursday morning.
When they arrived, they found it was a mother humpback and her calf which were fortunately by then free of the net.
“Our team did a visual inspection and with the use of an underwater GoPro (camera), were able to determine there was no netting remaining on either animal,” a Sea World spokesman said.
“We stayed with the pair for a short period to observe their behaviour before leaving them to swim off on their migration.”
The spokesman thanked members of the public who reported the stranding.
Humane Society International Australia and Sea Shepherd were quick to slam the Queensland shark control program, which has seen nets on beaches since the 1960s.
Sea Shepherd Shark Defence campaigner Jonathan Clark called on the state government to remove the shark nets immediately for the whales’ winter migration season.
“Every year thousands of eager people, locals and tourists alike, line the headlands and beaches hoping for a glimpse of these magnificent marine creatures,” he said.
“Again and again, they are being greeted by the horror of a whale fighting for life entangled n one of these nets. This is not what people want to see.
“Sea Shepherd is urgently calling on the Queensland Fisheries Minister, Mark Furner, for the immediate removal of shark nets and drumlines in Queensland so whales can migrate safely.”
Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck agreed it was time for change.
“Today’s entanglement is just another awful example of what we all know is coming every winter,” he said.
“Whales migrate right through the very area where the Queensland Government insists on anchoring 186m long gillnets.
“There are better ways to reduce the risk of shark bite without endangering these whales and marine wildlife. Enough is enough.”
According to statistics from the Queensland Department of Fisheries, only two whales have died in shark nets in the past 11 years while there has been only one fatal shark attack at a Queensland beach protected by nets since the program began.
Two years ago it was revealed the Queensland government had been considering removing the nets during winter, but the plan was abandoned at the last minute.
Originally published as Humpback whale and calf swim free from shark nets off Gold Coast
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