🔗 Share this article

A young marine mammal was found dead following being caught in a mesh netting along the shoreline of the region.

The juvenile whale was found entangled in barriers in northern Wollongong waters earlier this week, in the ocean between Coledale and Wombarra.

This incident represents the fifteenth marine mammal caught in protective netting near the eastern Australian coastline in the current year, while being the initial cetacean to have died, thought to have drowned while on its migration south.

Finding and Action

A representative for the government body overseeing marine activities stated that netting crews located the dead whale during a standard check early Tuesday.

There were no prior reports any alerts regarding a trapped whale in the Coledale area prior to this,” they said, and mentioned that no additional marine mammal incidents in NSW shark nets had been reported in the current period.

However, in June, a whale got caught in a shark drumline near Nobby’s beach.

Marine protection agencies, the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia and coastal rescue teams arrived on scene later that day, discovering the juvenile marine animal with net wrapped around its rear and side appendages.

“Everyone involved tried their best to disentangle the dead animal,” stated Marine Rescue NSW inspector Stuart Massey.

Obstacles and Consequences

The intention was to take the body to a location where extraction was possible from the water,” he said. Shortly before 3pm, “the combination of rough ocean weather and the nearby rocks and beach created dangers for the rescue team to stay on site, so we were forced to abandon”.

The remains drifted to land later that day. ORRCA said in a statement: “At this stage, the fatality cause is not determined and will remain unclear until … a examination is carried out.”

Protective Netting Setup Facts

There are 51 shark nets deployed in NSW, that include with sound-based alerts and marine mammal warnings.

The equipment “emit a high-frequency sound wave that discourages the mammals from the vicinity and minimizes the possibility of entanglement,” the representative noted.

“The government plans to examine advanced marine safety methods intended to lessen effects on ocean life and safeguarding beachgoers.”

Demands for Action

The whale drowning caused renewed appeals for the state authorities to discontinue its shark netting program.

Politician the MP stated how “absolutely heartbreaking to observe a whale calf die like this, notably as its demise was completely avoidable”.

“Every year when the nets go in, we see more whales and additional creatures like dolphins, threatened sea turtles and rare nurse sharks ensnared, wounded or deceased.”

Specialist Insights

Dr Olaf Meynecke, studying ocean creatures at Griffith University, explained data is limited to suggest that marine barriers had prevented marine incidents previously.

Wide-ranging extraction of sharks by shores as protective steps” had minimal impact on threat, he said.

Meynecke said whale calves faced greater danger of entanglement and drowning.

“We know that they lack awareness of the dangers from barriers.”

Cetaceans gain knowledge, acquiring communication skills regarding hazardous areas, Meynecke added.

An immature cetacean “could easily become distressed and if you’ve got high seas there exists the danger of drowning”.

Official Reactions and Options

Greens senator the senator commented: “Governments can help keep ocean-goers safe by increasing financial support in current solutions to archaic and useless shark nets and drumlines.

“Options consist of subsidising shark shield personal deterrent devices, shark spotter programs, eco-shark barriers, protective swimwear, and bettering informational efforts.

“A government study into shark risk mitigation suggested central government take leading action on promoting these funds, but this has so far been ignored.”

Whish-Wilson also called on the national authorities to eliminate a loophole in the federal protection legislation that allows local marine elimination initiatives.

“Government regulations allows the officially permitted marine mammal suffering that is occurring along the eastern shores through a dangerous and archaic environmental law exception.

“The moment has come to stop the global lengthiest sea creature removal and cease this inhumane officially permitted creature suffering.”