Shark Nets Continue to Harm Migrating Humpback Whales in Australia's East Coast

In recent weeks, the Australian East Coast made it to the headlines due to the first sighting of the seasonal migration of whales. The voyage includes the gigantic humpbacks that search for feeding grounds.

Migration of Humpback Whales to Australia's East Coast

Most of the groups cross waters between the Southern Ocean and the warm regions of the Coral Sea. This time of the year also serves as a window for the swimming mammals to breed, give birth, and nurture their younglings.

Queensland is among the places that commonly witness this spectacular whale migration. Conservation experts and authorities of the country have already slated out almost 30 gillnets throughout the coast to protect the humpback whales from being harmed by sharks.

However, numerous studies show that these nets could also inflict damage to the bodies of humpback whales. According to a report by PhysOrg, 81 individuals have been trapped by the shark nets since 2001. Because of their inability to escape, some whales do not survive the traps. This also causes traumatic experiences for those that we're able to free themselves from the mechanism.

New findings suggest better replacements for these conventional shark nets. The recommendation was already presented to Australia's Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries to minimize the entanglements to the exhausted visitors of the Queensland waters. The concept was raised in 2020 by the Shark Control Program's Scientific Working Group.

The said group is responsible for developing and testing conservation initiatives. These projects are then advised directly to the minister's office for approval.

In 2021, Australian minister Mark Furner announced that the removal of the shark nets would not commence. This statement divided the authorities and the scientific community despite the plan being detailed and backed up by supporting evidence.

Up to this date, the minister's office does not relay any information about the removal and replacement of the harmful nets during humpback migrations in the future.

Shark Nets Harm and Kill Humpback Whales Going Queensland Waters

Humane Society International's marine biology specialist Lawrence Chlebeck explained that these nets continue to entangle the migrating humpback whales every year. Unfortunately, the only thing the public can do is watch the alarming scenarios that follow, the expert added.

Chlebeck explained that the minister's group of scientists already advised taking the removal of the shark nets during the migration on trial, but each year, the same advice is being repelled, leading to more visitors trapped unwantedly.

The experts said that the accidents and harms inflicted on the whales do not make any sense, as these materials are deemed ineffective in reducing shark attacks and are already outdated. The only things that these measures give are injuries and death among the quiet visitors and other marine wildfires of the region, Chlebeck continued.

Australian Marine Conservation Society's shark expert Leonardo Guida said that the event they witness every year is extremely frustrating, especially because there is already a promising solution to end this horrifying cycle.

There are already projects that showed effects on the beaches of Queensland, including the monitoring drones, that give modern solutions to beach safety standards and do not inflict any harm to wildlife, Guida emphasized.

Shark nets scattered across the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Mackay, and Rainbow Beach are under the responsibility of Queensland's Shark Control Program. Most of them catch non-target animals and do not work to keep the sharks from entering the shore. The materials are the best at providing a false sense of security in Australia's East Cost.

Check out more news and information on Ocean in Science Times.