Entangled whale could be off Newcastle coastline as it heads north

On Sunday afternoon the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia [ORRCA] team received a confirmed sighting of the entangled whale off Coogee. The whale was heading north and was last sighted off North Bondi overnight.

The whale had two or three white buoys wrapped around it and a long rope trailing behind it.

A rescue attempt was made by the NSW Water Police and Marine Rescue, but the whale was travelling at a fast pace and managed to escape would-be rescuers prior to being detangled.

"We hope to have ORRCA members out at various vantage points trying to track this whale in the coming days weather permitting," a statement from ORRCA said.

"If you are out and about along the Central Coast to mid northern NSW coastline in the coming days, we are asking members of the public once again, to please keep an eye out and report any sightings.

"Should you see this whale or any other entangled marine mammals, please call the ORRCA Rescue Hotline urgently on 02 9415 3333. Please try to get a photo or video to confirm the entanglement plus a GPS location."

It follows a sighting on Saturday of an entangled humpback whale off Port Stephens. The whale had a large rope wrapped around its girth. It was reported to be moving freely as its pec fins and tail were not obstructed.

This whale is expected to have travelled further north by Monday and could be in northern NSW by now.

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