Juvenile humpback whale found dead after becoming entangled in NSW shark netAndrew HedgmanNewsWireWed, 29 October 2025 1:29PM
A juvenile humpback whale has been found dead after becoming entangled in a shark net off the NSW coast, reigniting national outrage over Australia’s decades-old shark control programs.
The 8m whale, believed to be about two years old, was discovered wrapped in netting between Coledale and Wombarra on Tuesday morning, the 15th whale entangled along Australia’s east coast this year and the first confirmed death.
Marine Rescue NSW inspector Stuart Massey said rescue crews were forced to abandon efforts to retrieve the whale’s body after dangerous sea conditions made the operation unsafe.
“The plan was to take the carcass to a location where it could be removed from the water,” Mr Massey told The Guardian.
“Shortly before 3pm, the combination of unfavourable sea conditions and the proximity to rocks and the shoreline meant it was becoming unsafe for our vessel and crew to remain there.”
The whale later washed ashore on Tuesday night.
Authorities from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) and Marine Rescue NSW responded after the discovery.
An NPWS spokesperson said the whale was “weaned and independent from its mother”.
ORRCA president Ashley Ryan told the ABC the whale was migrating south to Antarctica when it became trapped.
“It does look like the whale has died after becoming caught in the shark net, but without performing a necropsy, we won’t be able to say for sure,” Ms Ryan said.
“We’ve seen live whales in shark nets in NSW, but it’s not very common for this to happen.”
Wollongong Greens councillor Jess Whittaker described the incident as “devastating”.
“If it’s found that this whale has gotten caught in the shark net, struggled and died a really slow and painful death by drowning, that’s heartbreaking,” Ms Whittaker told the ABC.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed the whale was caught in the Coledale Beach net, one of 51 deployed across the state under the Shark Meshing Bather Protection Program.
A spokesperson said the nets were fitted with acoustic “whale alarms” and “dolphin pingers” designed to deter marine mammals.
“The NSW government will continue to investigate new shark mitigation technologies designed to minimise impacts on marine animals while protecting beachgoers,” the department said.
However, conservationists said the technology wasn’t working and the nets were relics of an outdated and ineffective system.
NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann said the whale’s death was “absolutely heartbreaking”.
“Every year when the nets go in, we see more whales and other wildlife like dolphins, endangered loggerhead turtles and critically endangered grey nurse sharks trapped, injured or killed,” she told The Guardian.
Dr Olaf Meynecke, a marine mammal researcher at Griffith University, said juvenile whales were particularly at risk.
“We know that they are not aware of the dangers of nets,” Dr Meynecke said.
“A young whale would panic quite quickly and if you’ve got high seas there is the risk of drowning.”
Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said governments should “supercharge investment in modern-day alternatives” such as shark shields, drone surveillance, eco-barriers and public education instead of continuing “the world’s longest marine cull”.
The latest tragedy follows a string of whale entanglements off Queensland in September, including a mother and calf trapped for hours in Noosa and another pair off Rainbow Beach that reportedly dragged a shark net more than 100km before being freed.
Conservation groups have long called for the replacement of shark nets and drumlines with modern, nonlethal technology such as drone monitoring and improved beach alerts.
In Queensland alone, RSPCA data shows the state’s shark control program captured more than 1600 marine animals last year, with more than 980 dying from drowning or injuries.
Sea Shepherd Australia spokesman Jonathan Clark said those figures highlight an urgent need for change.
“The lethal methods don’t protect people,” Mr Clark said.
“We need shark nets removed and to focus on modern technologies like drones and public education to make beaches safer without killing wildlife.”
Wollongong City Council will oversee the removal of the whale carcass in coming days, with ORRCA and NPWS to conduct a necropsy to confirm the cause of death.
Originally published as Juvenile humpback whale found dead after becoming entangled in NSW shark net
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