Experts called for a rethink of shark nets by Australia's Queensland state government after a Humpback whale became tangled and had to be rescued from netting on Monday, reported Xinhua.
Large nets running adjacent and several hundred meters from the shoreline, have been used in Australia since 1962 as a means of protecting swimmers from shark attack.
However the nets provide a risk to other marine life as well and several humpback whales will encounter problems every year as they migrate up Australia's Eastern coastline.
"It's the second whale caught this year," said Trevor Long, director of marine sciences at Sea World Gold Coast.
"We already had one caught on the Sunshine Coast but from this point on we'll see more animals trapped."
The animal became entangled in the netting on Monday morning and can be seen on video spinning in an attempt to free itself.
Rescuers from the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol's Marine Animal Release Team and Sea World, were able to free the whale using a small dinghy and poles and it was then able to continue its journey north.
"There are over 30,000 whales passing the coast every year (and) we are making a plea to government to look at the situation," Long said.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK
