A distressed humpback whale has been freed from a shark net following a dramatic rescue mission off the Gold Coast.
The eight-to-nine-metre whale became trapped in the net off Greenmount Beach at Coolangatta on Thursday morning.
It had partially freed itself but was pulling part of the net along with it.
Sea World crews used hooked sticks to cut the whale free about 9.30am.
Two large rescue balloons had been attached to the whale to monitor its location.
The incident came jus days after the Queensland Government ruled out a trial removal of shark nets during whale migration season, instead prioritising the safety of beach users to ‘support Queensland’s beach culture’.
The announcement went against the recommendation of a report commissioned to evaluate Queensland’s shark control program.
Queensland Department of Primary Industries, which maintains a hotline for reports of whales tangled in shark nets, said the risk is highest from May to September.
It estimated more than 40,000 humpback whales migrate along the Queensland coast each year and, on average, fewer than six become tangled in shark nets.
Macquarie University wildlife scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta said the incident highlighted the risk of entanglements to n marine life.
‘Whale entanglement in fishing gear is a global problem and this morning’s entanglement, already the second whale entangled this season along the humpback highway, is a reminder its happening here,’ she told Daily Mail .
Dr Pirotta said Aussies should not try and free a whale in the wild.
‘Whales are the size of a bus and can be very stressed when caught in gear, this is why only trained professionals are best placed to assist this whale,’ she said.
‘People have been killed in other parts of the world trying to help rescue whales.
‘As scientists, we need to keep learning about whales through our science, to best inform how we as humans can better interact with them, to help reduce interactions like this.’