Qld: Another attempt underway to free debris from whale
BRISBANE, Aug 30 AAP - A humpback whale feared drowned in netting off the Gold Coastwas located off the coast of northern NSW today and attempts were again under way to freeit.
A helicopter news crew spotted the 13-metre long mammal 3km off Woody Head, near Yamba,and heading slowly south.
Late this morning, two divers were in the water attempting to free ropes, buoys andanchor chains from the humpback's head and tale.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman Lawrence Orel said the divers wereusing hook-shaped knives to try to cut the debris away.
Conditions in the area were good, with light winds and only a small swell, Mr Orel said.
The whale was thought to have drowned after an attempt on Sunday to free the whalehad to be abandoned after it had become entangled in shark netting off Palm Beach.
The animal was spotted again from the air on Wednesday and then lost until it was locatedoff Evans Head yesterday.
Trevor Long from marine park Seaworld said the green buoys attached to the whale hadidentified it as the same one entangled in the shark net.
But he said the whale would be distressed and could die if it was not freed soon fromthe weight of 25 metres of chain and an anchor.
AAP rad/sc/ph
KEYWORD: WHALE THIRD DAYLEAD
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