A large humpback whale has been successfully rescued after becoming entangled in shark nets off Kurrawa Beach.
The complex operation was carried out by the Sea World Foundation and the Queensland Fisheries Marine Animal Release Teams on Tuesday.
Responders faced challenging weather and rough sea conditions during the high-stakes, four-hour rescue mission.
Working carefully alongside the distressed animal, crews used specialised cutting equipment to remove the majority of the netting, which was tightly wrapped around the 8-metre humpback’s head and tail.
Once the heavy equipment was cleared, the teams monitored the whale’s condition for a short period before letting it safely swim off to continue its annual migration.
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It marks the Sea World Foundation’s third whale rescue of the 2026 migration season, but the first on the Gold Coast involving shark control gear.
Specialised teams remain on standby to assist with any further entanglements as the whale migration continues.
