A proactive and swift response by the community, Noosa Council and a local marine expert has helped free a humpback whale calf and mother from shark nets off Noosa's Main Beach.
The council engaged local marine expert Paddy Marine Pty Ltd to attend to the entangled whales, after the contractor worked with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) to receive a permit.
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," he said.
Mayor Frank Wilkie commended the community for its passion and commitment to saving the whales.
"This is such a wonderful outcome and testament to the passionate, inspiring community we have," he said.
Cr Wilkie said Council supports DAF's Shark control program however, this incident reinforced the need for the State Government to consider a trial of removing the mesh nets during the winter migrating 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,
"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," Cr Wilkie said.
Noosa Council Environmental Services Manager Ben Derrick on the successful whale release off Noosa's Main Beach:
Whale-and-calf-release-from-shark-nets_18-Sept.mp3
