A 14-15 metre Humpback Whale entangled in fishing gear off Norah Head was successfully freed following a coordinated rescue operation involving NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Large Whale Disentanglement staff, Marine Rescue NSW and ORRCA volunteers.
On Saturday morning, 4 July, a Marine Rescue NSW vessel reported the entangled Humpback Whale, about 200 metres offshore from Forresters Beach.
The vessel remained with the whale, tracking its location and movements as it continued travelling north.
Drone footage provided by ORRCA confirmed rope, netting and buoys were wrapped around the whale's tail and allowed the NPWS team to assess the animal's condition and behaviour.
The experienced NPWS Large Whale Disentanglement Team was on the water by 1 pm and after several carefully executed approaches, crew members were able to cut the entangling gear free by 3:30 pm.
The retrieved gear has been retained and may assist in identifying its owner.
The fast and collaborative efforts of NPWS and its partners enabled a swift response in favourable weather and ocean conditions, ahead of forecast deteriorating conditions on Sunday.
Disentangling marine wildlife is a complicated and dangerous operation, it requires highly skilled, trained operators, as well as the right conditions, to safely approach the animal.
Humpback Whales migrate past NSW between their Antarctic feeding and tropical breeding grounds.
Large Whale Disentanglement training and responses are supported by the NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Hunter Central Coast Branch Acting Director Mitch Carter said:
"This was an outstanding collaborative effort involving NPWS, Marine Rescue and ORRCA volunteers, all working together to give this whale the best chance of survival. Every successful disentanglement is the result of extensive training, careful planning and teamwork.
"The quick reporting of the entanglement, favourable conditions and the ability to confirm the nature of the entanglement using drone footage all contributed to a rapid and successful response.
"The whale presented some challenges on the water, particularly as it was not lifting its tail as expected, but the skill and persistence of the crew ultimately resulted in the gear being safely removed.
