Concerns are mounting over whale safety during the migration season following an unprecedented surge of rescues off the east coast in recent days.
The Sea World Foundation executed its fifth high-stakes rescue operation in just five days yesterday, rushing down from its Gold Coast base to assist a young humpback whale entangled near Byron Bay.
The distress call centered around a young humpback trapped by commercial fishing gear just off The Pass.
“Upon inspection, the team discovered the buoy was part of a drumline set-up and unfortunately the young whale had the hook stuck in its right pectoral flipper, with the trailing chain going under its body leading to the buoy being on the left-hand side, pinning the right pec,” Sea World Head of Marine Sciences Wayne Phillips said.
“The rescue team initially attempted to dislodge the hook using their cutting equipment, but with the pectoral flipper pinned to the body were unable to get access, so they moved to attaching a larger buoy to the exiting buoy to hopefully bring the flipper up.
“During this process, the team were able to remove the original buoy and leave the whale with only the hook and a small length of chain remaining”.
Rescue crews admitted it was disappointing to not be able to remove the hook but promising to see the whale’s swimming return to a normal pattern following the removal of the buoy.
“We are pleased to leave this whale in a better position than when we found it, and upon further inspection of the underwater vision, we are hopeful the hook which was only slightly embedded will work itself out over the coming days,” Mr Phillips said.
There’s now been two rescues off Byron Bay and three off the Gold Coast since Saturday.
“It has been a busy last five days with five whale rescues and while we love getting out and helping the whales, it is disappointing to see any animal in distress, but we are proud to be able to help these whales get back on their migration,” Phillips said.
