National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has put out an urgent call, asking for the community’s assistance to help track down three whales which are making their way up and down the coast.
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The whales have become entangled in rope and buoys.
NPWS spokesperson, Susan Crocetti, said people on any of the coastal headlands, on water craft and other vessels may come across these entangled whales.
Immediately reporting the whale’s location and direction of travel will improve our response and chance of successful disentanglement, she said.
“A humpback calf was reported by a fisherman late yesterday afternoon as tangled just off Point Plomer north of Port Macquarie with up to five white buoys trailing behind it as it attempted to travel north,” Ms Crocetti said.
“A bit further south an adult whale was seen off Forster with ropes wrapped around its body, and off Crescent Head onshore observers spotted an adult whale dragging a single white buoy,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the timing and locations have proved too difficult for us to mount any sort of effective disentanglement.
“The sooner we relocate these animals the quicker we can potentially mount an operation to remove entanglements.”
If people observed an entangled whale it would be ideal if people could keep visual contact with the whale including capturing any images of the entanglement and contacting NPWS immediately, she said.
“So far this season we have seen eight entangled whales.
“We will see more before the season is out I’m sure as last year’s record was a total of 21.”
Crew and whales-watchers aboard Forster-based Amaroo Cruises spotted an entangled humpback just a few kilometres off the coast on July 23.
“We contacted both NPWS and ORRCA giving the whale’s exact position, speed and heading,” Amaroo Cruises skipper, Matt Coombe said.
“Hopefully they catch up and assist this unfortunate whale soon.”
The poor humpback was tangled in ropes and buoys, he said.
“He/she was swimming along okay but is definitely going to need some help in order to survive.”
Migrating whales occasionally become entangled in fishing gear and other ocean debris.
Entangled whales tire quickly and often perish.
NPWS maintains a number of specialised whale disentanglement teams who undertake the tricky task of removing entanglement.
To report entangled whales please call the Enviroline on 131 555 or ORRCA on 02 9415 3333
