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First whale entanglement off the Gold Coast likely the first of many as Queensland expands its shark control program

Humane World for Animals

A migrating humpback whale is entangled in a shark net off Greenmount Beach at Coolangatta, Gold Coast, marking the first entanglement of the whale migration season. 

The trauma this whale is experiencing is on the Crisafulli Government’s head for ignoring scientific advice to remove shark nets for the winter.

Even if freed from the net, there is every chance the whale will die from exhaustion and trauma.

Humane World for Animals Australia Marine Biologist, Lawrence Chlebeck said: “Every single year we see the same predictable and avoidable story play out over and over again.  

“Migrating humpback whales face the hazard of 27 lethal shark nets off the SE Queensland coast. It is inevitable that some will get caught.  

“For the whales, getting caught in a net is tremendously stressful.  On their epic journey to and from Antarctica, they don’t have any energy to spare. Even if freed alive, there’s no guarantee they’ll survive after the traumatic ordeal.” 

It is a horrible irony that shark nets are meant for public safety. Yet we mostly hear about them when animals like whales and dolphins and turtles are caught in them. In any case there is no scientific credibility to the claim that shark nets help protect the public.

“It’s wild that in the face of undeniable evidence of the nets’ ineffectiveness for public safety, the Queensland Government is not only refusing to remove shark nets, but they’ve proposed adding more. It simply means more animals like whales will be entangled and die without any benefit to public safety. 

“Successful trials of drones to keep an eye out for sharks and alert lifesavers to swimmers at risk of drowning at Southeast Queensland beaches, makes the continued use of a 61-year-old shark net strategy redundant.” 

Shark nets operating as part of Queensland’s Shark Control Program were responsible for the entanglement of eight whales last season, and 34 in the last three years. In addition to migrating whales, the shark culling nets entrap and kill dolphins, turtles, sharks and rays.

 

Marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck is available for interview. 

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