More Whales Caught in Nets Off Australia's East Coast
Scientists have noticed a troubling rise in the number of whales caught and tangled in fishing and shark nets this migration season.
A total of 48 separate entanglements of humpback whales have been documented on the east coast in the past few months, following last year's estimate of 45 entangled whales.
- The information was collected from social media posts, newspaper articles, and enquiries to authorities.
- There is no official database, although one is needed.
- The International Whaling Commission has voluntary reports on its portal.
Consistent with the increasing population size, entanglements of humpback whales in set fishing gear have been rising steadily since the 1990s.
Rising entanglements are part of a concerning trend seen in the United States and elsewhere, with 20 reported cases in 2017, for example.
Author's summary: Whales are getting caught in nets off Australia's east coast at an alarming rate.