In late August '02 an adult humpback whale became entangled in shark mesh off the QLD Gold Coast. The whale disappeared dragging the heavy net and was not expected to survive.
Three days later the animal was relocated off Yamba in NSW with net wrapped around its head including the blowhole and a large mass of net rope and floats binding the tail stock.
In a combined operation Sea World, the QLD Department of Primary Industries together with the NSW Fisheries, Marine Parks Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service were able to cut the material from the whale.
During the operation to free the whale it was closely accompanied by three other adult humpback whales.