Mackay gets ready to welcome migrating whales

11:50 PM Tue 30 Jun 2009 GMT

'Hamilton Island, Great Barrier Reef, Whitsundays, Whale' Andrea Francolini / Audi &copy

With more than 11,000 whales expected to make their way up Queensland's coast this winter, Mackay's Marine Animal Release Team (MART) is preparing for their arrival and any entanglements between whales and offshore marine equipment.

Member for Mackay and Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the Mackay MART would be undertaking cutting practice during their training session today.

'To release a whale they have to use specialised cutting equipment to remove the ropes, which make up the shark control nets or fish nets,' Mr Mulherin said.

'Their tools of trade include large buoys, nets and specialised knives along with a range of cutting poles and grappling hooks.

'The team also has a buoy that attaches to an entangled whale to keep track of the animal if it moves away.

'These training sessions allow the team to practice release techniques on the water and become familiar with the equipment.'

May to October is typically the period when whales are migrating along the Queensland coast.

'With so many whales migrating along the coastline each year, the animals can become entangled in equipment such as shark nets,' Mr Mulherin said.

'We currently have five shark nets and 27 drum lines in the Mackay area, from Harbour Beach to Lamberts Beach. The nets are important for bather safety.

'To ensure we can free an entangled animal quickly, we rely heavily on lifesaving services and members of the community to notify us of an entanglement as soon as possible.

'Once notified, our MART can be activated - the sooner we have them on the water the more chance there is of the animal being released unharmed.

'The public can assist with this and we would encourage people to report all suspected entanglements to the Shark Hotline on 1800 806 891.'

Mr Mulherin said to help reduce entanglements, acoustic alarms were also fitted to the nets during the whale migration season.

While there have been no entanglements in the Shark Control Program equipment at Mackay, whales are common in these waters and it is prudent that we are prepared for an entanglement.

MARTs are based in Mackay, and on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

For more information about the program, visit www.dpi.qld.gov.auor call Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries on 13 25 23.

by QLD Government - Dept Fisheries