An entangled humpback whale has been spotted moving down New South Wales’s South Coast these past few days. It was spotted off the coast of Newcastle on Saturday and has now made it’s way down to Sydney as of today.
It has been reported that the whale is caught in drum line, most commonly used for fishing and to divert sharks away from swimming areas such as ocean pools.
This time of year is when many humpback whales migrate to warmer waters. If whales are unable to seamlessly migrate, they are unable to gain the sufficient energy levels to survive, as well as reproduce. This not only has a staggering effect on the humpback whale population, but also negative connotations of Australia’s marine ecosystem.
both the government and respective environmental organizations need to ensure that any infrastructure built in and around the ocean is not only sustainable but also doesn’t interfere with the natural process of marine wildlife.
Image: Image: Shutterstock – ChameloensEye
Produced By: James Bale
Featured In Story: Dr Raphael Mayaud – Researcher from the Southern Ocean Persistent Organic Pollutants Program at Griffith University
First aired on The Wire, Monday 16 June 2025