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Whale rescues caught on camera
Sunshine Coast whale releases will be caught on camera this year thanks to new high tech gear to be used in the region.
Sunshine Coast whale releases will be caught on camera this year thanks to new high tech gear to be used in the region.
Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said that for the first time the Fisheries Queensland Sunshine Coast Marine Animal Release Team (MART) would be using `head cams' to improve their whale release techniques.
"The MART consists of volunteers from the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol who undertake the release of marine animals, mainly humpback whales, during the whale migration season," Mr Wallace said.
"The `head cams', previously trialled by the Gold Coast MART will now be used by the Sunshine Coast team this whale season. The cameras will be mounted on helmets worn by team members.
"On the Gold Coast the cameras have been instrumental in allowing officers to analyse and refine their release techniques while also using the vision to train new MART members.
"Sunshine Coast will be undertaking their annual training this week using the new cameras and after the training is complete, they too will be able to use the vision they have collected to refine their release techniques before the start of this year's whale migration season.
"May to October are typically the months when whales start to migrate along the Queensland coast.
"Although entanglements in shark control equipment generally occur later in the migration season around August and September, it is important that the teams are ready for the entire season."
Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district officer Greg Bowness said during the training exercises the team would use a simulated whale tail to allow officers to practice release techniques in a more realistic situation on the water.
"These highly-skilled officers do an incredible job in successfully releasing whales in some tricky situations," Mr Bowness said.
"During the training the officers usually tow the whale tail covered in netting behind a boat to give officers a feel for cutting a moving animal free.
"MART members also use specialised knives designed to cut the thick shark net ropes without harming the animal.
"These knives are super sharp and could easily cut off someone's finger in one slice – but even though they are sharp, they are designed to get between the whale's skin and tightly wrapped ropes without harming the animal."
Mr Wallace said to ensure an entangled animal was freed quickly, officers relied heavily on lifesaving services and members of the community to notify them of an entanglement as soon as possible.
"Once notified, the MART can be activated – the sooner we have them on the water the more chance there is of the animal being released unharmed," Mr Wallace said.
"The public can assist with this and we would encourage people to report all suspected entanglements to the Shark Hotline on 1800 806 891."
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