The Marine Education and Research Society is urging boaters to keep an eye out for entangled humpback whales.
Researcher Jackie Hildering says a staggering number of humpbacks on the coast have scars from being entangled, so it’s possible boaters may come across one.
She says trying to remove the gear yourself is dangerous for you and also for the whale.
“Well intentioned people who have tried to remove the net or the line at the surface then are removing the opportunity to see that there might still be line or netting below the surface and that surface gear is also essential in the disentanglement operation.”
Hildering says calling the marine mammal line triggers a response crew which can come out and disentangle the whale.
She says that’s also the number for people to report any violations or collisions with marine mammals.
