SeaWorld resumes rescue efforts to save humpback whale entangled in shark nets

Rescue crews were forced to abandon the rescue efforts at sunset on Wednesday, but were out again at first light on Thursday.

The “emotional” mission to save a humpback whale trapped in shark netting in waters off the southern Gold Coast has resumed on Thursday morning.

SeaWorld and Queensland Department of Fisheries workers spent ten hours on Wednesday trying to save the eight-metre subadult mammal who became entangled in hundreds of metres of netting.

SeaWorld’s head of marine sciences, Wayne Phillips said the marathon effort had been “quite emotional”.

Workers from the Department of Fisheries and SeaWorld spent ten hours on Wednesday trying to save the animal. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The whale is said to be stuck in more than 100m of shark netting. Picture: Twitter

“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.”

Sea World staff attempt to free a whale trapped in nets at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Picture: Twitter

Rescuers were forced to abandon the search at sunset on Wednesday, but placed a satellite tracker on the animal so they could resume their efforts at first light.

As of 7am, the mammal was 30 nautical miles off the Tweed Coast.

The whale is 30 nautical miles off shore on Thursday morning. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“He’s quite a fair way off … Once we find him, we’ll do our best to get him free,” Mr Phillips said.

“The whale was looking quite lethargic by the end of Wednesday, we’re quite surprised at how far he travelled overnight.

“That’s a good sign from a whale perspective, but it may make our job harder.

“The more energy the whale has, the more difficult it is to work with him.”

In 2020, six whales became entangled in shark nets, all of whom were successfully released.

There have been calls from scientists to the Queensland Minister for Fisheries to remove the nets during whale migration. Source: Channel 7

Sea World staff attempt to free a whale trapped in nets at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Picture: Twitter

In September, a trial replacement of shark nets with alternatives in Queensland waters for the duration of the whale migration season was recommended to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mark Furner, by the Shark Control Program’s scientific working group.

Just last month, Mr Furner said removing the shark nets for the whale migration was off the table for the year.

Shark scientist Leonardo Guida said it was “incredibly frustrating” seeing the same thing unfold each year.

“We have solutions that modernise beach safety standards and don’t put wildlife at risk. Get the nets out and the drones up,” Dr Guida said.

Marine Biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said shark nets were killing Queensland’s marine life.

“The Minister’s (Mark Furner) own experts advised him to remove the nets during the migration season,” he said.

“If he’s not heeding the advice of his own experts, what exactly is his decision making based on?”