Juvenile humpback whale found dead after becoming entangled in NSW shark net

A baby humpback whale was found dead after becoming entangled in a shark net off the NSW coast, reigniting national anger over Australia’s decades-old shark control programmes.

The 8m whale, believed to be around two years old, was found wrapped in nets between Coledale and Wombarra on Tuesday morning; It was the 15th whale to wander off Australia’s east coast this year and the first confirmed death.

NSW Marine Rescue inspector Stuart Massey said rescuers had to abandon efforts to retrieve the whale’s body after dangerous sea conditions made the operation unsafe.

“Our plan was to take the carcass to a location where it could be removed from the water,” Mr Massey told The Guardian.

“Shortly before 3pm, the combination of unfavorable sea conditions and proximity to the rocks and coastline meant that it became unsafe for our ship and crew to remain there.”

The whale later came ashore on Tuesday night.

Officials from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Australia’s Marine Mammal Rescue and Research Organization (ORRCA) and NSW Marine Rescue responded after the discovery.

An NPWS spokesman said the whale was “weaned and independent of its mother.”

ORRCA president Ashley Ryan told the ABC the whale had migrated south to Antarctica when it became stuck.

“The whale appears to have died after being caught in a shark net, but we can’t say for sure without a post-mortem,” Ms Ryan said.

“We have seen live whales in shark nets in NSW, but it is not very common for this to happen.”

Wollongong Greens councilor Jess Whittaker described the incident as “devastating”.

Ms Whittaker told the ABC: “It would be heartbreaking if it was discovered that this whale had become entangled in the shark net, struggled and died a really slow and painful death by drowning.”

The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed the whale was captured in the Coledale Beach net, one of 51 deployed across the state as part of the Shark Meshing Swimmer Protection Programme.

A spokesman said the nets were equipped with acoustic “whale alarms” and “dolphin rattles” designed to deter marine mammals.

“The NSW government will continue to investigate new shark mitigation technologies designed to minimize impacts on marine animals while protecting beachgoers,” the department said.

But conservationists said the technology did not work and the networks were remnants of an outdated and ineffective system.

NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said the whale’s death was “absolutely heartbreaking”.

“Every year when the nets come in we see more whales and other wildlife such as dolphins, endangered loggerhead turtles and critically endangered gray nurse sharks being trapped, injured or killed,” he told The Guardian.

Marine mammal researcher Dr. from Griffith University. Olaf Meynecke said baby whales were particularly at risk.

“We know they are unaware of the dangers of networks,” Dr Meynecke said.

“A young whale panics very quickly and risks drowning in the high seas.”

Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said governments should “increase investment in today’s alternatives” such as shark shields, drone surveillance, eco-barriers and public education rather than continuing “the world’s longest marine cull”.

The latest tragedy followed a series of whale entanglements off Queensland in September, including a mother and calf stranded for hours at Noosa and another pair reportedly dragging a shark net more than 100km before being released off Rainbow Beach.

Conservation groups have long called for shark nets and drum lines to be replaced with modern, non-lethal technologies such as drone monitoring and advanced beach alerts.

In Queensland alone, RSPCA data shows the state’s shark control program captured more than 1600 marine animals last year, with more than 980 dying from drowning or injury.

Sea Shepherd Australia spokesman Jonathan Clark said these figures pointed to an urgent need for change.

“Lethal methods do not protect people,” Mr. Clark said.

“We need to focus on shark net removal and modern technologies like drones and public education to make beaches safer without killing wildlife.”

Wollongong City Council will oversee the removal of the whale carcass in the coming days and, together with ORRCA and NPWS, will conduct a necropsy to confirm the cause of death.