It has been confirmed today that a humpback whale calf has drowned after entanglement in a shark net off Coledale Beach, near Wollongong NSW. The dead whale was found still bound in the shark net, near Wombarra. The New South Wales Government returned shark nets to 51 locations along NSW...
Humane World for Animals Australia has applauded a motion passed by the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) last week (see wording of Motion below), calling on the Queensland State Government to modernise its primitive Shark Control Program by working with coastal councils to trial non-lethal, evidence-based technologies.
The motion, passed at the Association’s 129th Annual Conference last week, saw 204 councils vote in favour (7 opposed) to appeal to the state government to examine the use of methods including drone surveillance, sonar detection systems and Catch-Alert drumlines, specifically during the annual whale migration period.
Humane World for Animals Australia marine biologist, Lawrence Chlebeck said LGAQ is picking up the state government’s slack on the topic of shark nets. “LGAQ and their member councils in support of this motion are demonstrating real leadership on modernising this outdated program,” said Mr Chlebeck.
“Local councils are doing a better job than the state government at reading the room on this issue. A recent survey found that 96% of Gold Coast residents want to remove shark nets during the whale migration season. Poll after poll and protest after protest have made it plain as day that Queenslanders want progress on this issue. We hope that Premier Crisafulli will listen more closely to what is now a chorus of residents and local government on the topic of shark mitigation”.
The Queensland Government’s Shark Control Program consists of 27 culling nets on beaches in southeast Queensland, and 383 lethal drumlines in use on beaches from the New South Wales border up to Cairns. In 2024 1,641 animals were entangled and hooked in the program, including 22 whales and dolphins, 37 turtles, and 46 rays. More than 980 were killed.
LGAQ’s Motion:
Motion 92 – Trial of non-lethal shark mitigation measures during the whale migration period
Vote: 204 in favour | 7 opposed
That the LGAQ calls on the State Government to modernise Queensland’s Shark Control Program by working in partnership with interested coastal councils to trial non-lethal, evidence-based shark mitigation technologies such as drone surveillance, sonar detection systems, and SMART drumlines, specifically during the annual whale migration period.
Media contact: Sam Edmonds – Director, Humane World for Animals
0490 934 290
Footage and still imagery of whale and calf in nets at Noosa by Geoff Aquino / @geoffaquino
