NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s (NPWS) whale disentanglement team has freed a seven-metre humpback whale from netting at Wattamolla off Sydney’s coast.
Incident Controller for Large Whale Disentanglement at NPWS, Brendan Neilly said two disentanglement teams were deployed to attempt the dangerous disentanglement operation.
“We are delighted we could safely free this whale which appears to be swimming freely and able to continue its journey south,” Mr Neilly said.
“The weather and sea conditions were on our side with this operation which combined with plenty of light really helped us achieve this successful outcome,” he said.
Mr Neilly said the whale was first reported in possible distress on Monday morning and NPWS monitored the animal before the disentanglement team undertook a closer assessment of the risks and whether or not the operation could proceed.
He said the whale was entangled at both the head and the tail, which made the operation more complex.
“Once crews attached a line to the animal, they were able to work quickly to make the strategic cuts that allowed the whale to swim free,” he said.
“Humpback whales are now returning to Antarctic waters to spend the summer feeding on krill so we are all very happy to know this whale can now continue on its way south.”
Mr Neilly said the operation was a multiagency response and thanked NPWS partner agencies who supported with the rescue, including Marine Rescue NSW, the Department of Primary Industries Fisheries and the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA).
