Twelve whales have been tangled in shark nets off Queensland’s coast so far this year. Here’s why
by Petra Stock from on (#70D64)
In the worst case, entanglements could cause drowning, one expert says, but whales can also suffer long-term effects from the nets
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Scientists say a flourishing whale population that is swimming closer to shore and into the path of shark nets is contributing to the 50% increase in entanglements off Queensland's coast this year.
Nine entanglements involving 12 whales have already occurred this year, compared with six on average, many off the Sunshine Coast. Eight whales were tangled in shark nets in 2024.
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