Today saw the eleventh humpback whale of the season entangled in shark nets, ten of which have occurred in the last nine days.

Most of these were mothers and calves making the already arduous journey back to the Antarctic, and come after Premier Crisafulli chose to ignore his departments own Scientific Working Group, and also ignore the independent KPMG recommendation to remove shark nets during whale migration season.

The current tally stands as follows:

1 at Coolangatta (today)
2 at Rainbow Beach (today)
2 at Mooloolaba (this week)
1 at Marcoola (this week)
2 at Noosa (last week)
2 at Rainbow Beach (last week, dragged north to Hervey Bay)
1 at Coolangatta (June)

All of these whales have been ‘successfully released alive’, as celebrated by DPI, but as we know - post release mortality is not tracked and has never been studied by DPI.

The Queensland community has spoken very clearly on this, enough is enough. We are forced to watch whale upon whale get entangled in these nets every year, and politicians hide behind their mahogany desks and misleading press releases.

The science is clear that shark nets don’t even keep beach goers safe, and politicians using the tired old line of "we make no excuse for putting human safety first" might sound good as a soundbite, but have no basis in fact. 

Other more callous statements, such as the following one made by Minister Perrett last week, go a step father and err toward a fraudulent misrepresentation of the facts:

"Traditional methods such as nets and drumlines, are scientifically proven to be the most effective tool in protecting swimmers"

We sought clarification on what science Minister Perret is citing here, and have not received a reply. This statement is so far from fact, it can only have been made in error, or he is blatantly lying to justify the program. 

At this rate, we are tracking for the worst year of entanglements ever:

2019 - 5
2020 - 6
2021 - 4
2022- 15
2023 - 11
2024 - 8
2025 - 11 (and counting)

We urge you to politely but firmly write to Premier Crisafulli and Minister Perrett to share your thoughts on this archaic program, and on them ignoring the scientific working group and KPMG recommendation, and on their general diregard for wildlife and human safety.

• the.premier@premiers.qld.gov.au
• primaryindustries@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Please take a few moments from your day, and let them know that you will no longer accept this from your so-called 'leaders'...