Whale freed from nets

A WHALE trapped in shark nets off Kirra Beach was freed after being stuck for at least four hours yesterday.

At about 6.30am Sea World received a call from a member of the public reporting a whale stuck in shark nets at Kirra Beach. By 8am Sea World rescuers were on scene to help the subadult humpback whale.

Head of Marine Science Dr Trevor Long said while the whale hadn’t been too badly entangled, it would have been in some distress.

“It was a very calm whale,” he said. “It was only caught by the one pectoral fin. But sometimes I believe that whales understand we’re helping them.”