Noosa Council is urging the State Government to consider a trial to remove shark nets during the winter whale migration season.
It comes as three whales became entangled in nets at Noosa Main Beach and Rainbow Beach this week.
On Wednesday afternoon, a humpback mother and calf were trapped in a net off Noosa before being freed around midnight.
And another whale that dragged a net from Rainbow Beach to Hervey Bay was freed yesterday.
Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie said Council supports the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) shark control program however, the incidents reinforced the need for the State Government to consider a trial of removing the mesh nets during the winter migration season.
“Council endorsed a Mayoral Minute in July this year requesting the State trial removing the mesh nets for the shark control program and use other non-lethal measures,” Councillor Wilkie said.
“These were recommendations from a review conducted by KPMG for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, so we urge the State Government to implement the recommendation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Councillor Wilkie has praised a proactive and swift response by the community, Council staff and a local marine expert who worked to free the humpback whale calf and mother from shark nets off Main Beach.
The council engaged local marine expert Paddy Marine to help free the entangled whales, after the contractor worked with DAF to receive a permit.
Council’s Environmental Services manager Ben Derrick said DAF was unable to respond onsite until dawn due to their standard operating procedure.
“There is a set protocol to attending to whales and through cooperation with DAF and our specialist contractor, we managed to get a quick and positive outcome,” he said.
“The calf was totally wrapped in the net, and the mother was pushing the calf up to breathe, and there were fears the calf would not have survived until the morning.”
“Huge accolades to Paddy and his crew for responding quickly,” Mr Derrick said.
