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A juvenile marine mammal has been discovered deceased following being caught in a shark net along the shoreline of NSW.

The juvenile whale was found trapped by barriers off the Wollongong coastline this Tuesday, in the sea separating Wombarra and Coledale.

This event marks the 15th whale to become entangled in shark nets along Australia’s east coast so far this year, and it is the first whale to have died, believed to have succumbed to drowning during its migration south.

Finding and Reaction

A representative for the state department overseeing marine activities stated that netting crews discovered the deceased whale during a standard check on Tuesday morning.

“DPIRD did not receive any reports about a caught cetacean in the Coledale area earlier,” the spokesperson added, further stating that no other whale entanglements in NSW shark nets had been reported this year.

Nonetheless, during June, another whale became tangled in a drumline setup near Nobby’s beach.

Marine protection agencies, ORRCA and emergency responders responded that afternoon, discovering the juvenile cetacean with net wrapped around its rear and side appendages.

“All responders did their utmost to release the lifeless whale,” said Marine Rescue NSW inspector the responder.

Obstacles and Aftermath

“The plan involved transporting the body to a location for removal from the sea,” Massey noted. Just before three in the afternoon, “the mix of adverse marine environment and the closeness to rocky areas and coast meant it was becoming unsafe for our vessel and crew to stay on site, so we were compelled to halt”.

The remains washed ashore that evening. Marine experts explained: “For now, the fatality cause is unknown and won’t be confirmed until … a examination is performed.”

Shark Net Setup Facts

In place are over fifty nets installed in the region, that include with sound-based alerts and acoustic devices.

The equipment “emit a sonic pulse that discourages the marine animals from the vicinity and minimizes the possibility of capture,” the official noted.

“State authorities will continue to investigate new shark mitigation technologies intended to lessen harm to sea creatures while ensuring safety for beachgoers.”

Demands for Action

This tragic incident has reignited calls for the NSW government to end its shark netting program.

Legislator Cate Faehrmann stated that it was “absolutely heartbreaking to witness a baby humpback whale succumb this way, notably as its passing was entirely unnecessary”.

“Every year when the nets go in, we witness additional cetaceans and other animals like dolphins, threatened sea turtles and highly threatened shark species trapped, injured or killed.”

Specialist Insights

University expert, studying sea animals at Griffith University, commented data is limited to show that protective nets have stopped marine incidents historically.

The “large-scale removal of marine predators near coastlines as a mitigation measure” did little to reduce threat, Meynecke explained.

Meynecke said whale calves were more vulnerable of being trapped and suffocating.

“Research shows that they are not aware of the dangers posed by netting.”

Cetaceans learn over time, learning to communicate about dangerous locations, the researcher noted.

A juvenile marine mammal “would panic quite quickly and with rough ocean conditions there is the risk of death”.

Government Reactions and Options

Greens senator the senator stated: “Officials can help ensure swimmer safety by boosting funding in current solutions to outdated and ineffective nets and lines.

“These include subsidising shark shield personal deterrent devices, shark spotter programs, sustainable marine protections, protective swimwear, and improving public education.

“An official investigation into shark risk mitigation advised national authorities take leading action on supporting such financing, but this advice was not followed.”

The official further demanded the federal government to remove an exemption in the national environment law that enables regional predator removal plans.

“Federal law enables the state-sanctioned animal cruelty that we’re seeing off our Queensland and NSW coastlines using risky and old-fashioned environmental law exception.

“It’s time to stop the global lengthiest sea creature removal and stop this barbaric government-sanctioned animal cruelty.”