Whale entangled on Gold Coast today is the latest victim of QLD Government's cruel shark nets

BRISBANE (June 10, 2026)—A humpback whale entangled on the Gold Coast today is the latest victim of the Queensland state government’s shark nets which endanger the lives of whales during their migration season every year and are responsible for the entanglement of countless other marine animals. 

A traumatising four-hour long rescue was required to free the humpback whale from a shark net this morning. 

Humane World for Animals Australia (previously known as Humane Society International Australia) marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said the event underscores the Crisafulli’s government’s inaction on this issue while Queenslanders have consistently made clear their disdain for shark nets: 

“Just last whale migration season, Australia and the world watched the harrowing footage captured at Noosa of a mother humpback desperately trying to keep her calf afloat as it gasped for air while trapped in a shark net. They were two of 13 whales entangled last winter, and we fear this migration season will be no different unless the Government comes to its senses. 

“Even when whales are freed, such traumatising and energy-depleting events severely impair whales’ ability to reach their important seasonal feeding ground in the Southern Ocean. 

“Humpback whales are migrating along the Australian coastline again and every one of these highly intelligent, social and magnificent animals are being put in harm’s way once more by cruel and destructive nets.  

“And let’s not forget that there’s nothing to suggest shark nets reduce the risk of shark bite. In fact, shark nets increase the risk by attracting large sharks to the dead and dying wildlife they entangle. 

“How can the Queensland Government continue to justify their year-round deployment of these lethal, outdated and dangerous shark nets to the state’s waters while they endanger swimmers, surfers and whales?  

“With international eyes now on this as well, the Crisafulli Government will also have to answer for the impact that trapping and harming whales has on the Queensland tourism economy. So far, over 70,000 people outside Australia have signed a petition expressing their disappointment with the Queensland Government over this issue.” 

Queensland’s shark control program consists of 27 culling nets on beaches in southeast Queensland, and 383 lethal drumlines in use on beaches from the New South Wales border to Cairns. Shark culling nets are not barriers, they are approximately 150 metre-long fishing nets installed 500 metres off ocean beaches year-round. They are designed to entangle and kill sharks and are notorious for trapping and drowning other harmless marine wildlife.

ENDS