A DECEASED bottle nose dolphin was discovered today, June 15, in the shark nets off Noosa’s Main Beach.
The discovery was made by local jet ski tourism operator Jonah Cooper. Mr Cooper said: “This individual is a sub-adult member of the pod that plays out here with me almost daily.”
Sea Shepherd’s Apex Harmony Queensland Coordinator, Jonathan Clark, said: “This entanglement has occurred just as the humpback whale migration begins to bring these magnificent creatures close to this very net. These Noosa nets are responsible for the ensnarement of a whale last year.
“This makes very hollow, the words of Queensland’s Shark Control Manager, who often reports that Queensland’s Shark Control Program nets have pingers to protect whales and dolphins.
“Eleven whales reported tangled in Gold and Sunshine Coast nets last year and this dolphin say that is completely misleading,” Jonathan added.
“Queensland tourism derives huge benefit from marine wildlife including dolphins, whales, turtles and rays that are continuously caught in these nets that provide a mere false sense of security,” Jonathan continued.
“Sea Shepherd calls on the Queensland Government to remove shark nets during whale migration season as does New South Wales as a first move towards their future replacement with modern non-lethal mitigation methods that actually work,” Johnathan added.
