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14 Aug 2017

Sharks Board help release trapped whale calf

Holly Konig (South Coast Sun)

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Fortunately, the uninjured calf was released just minutes after the Sharks Board arrived at the scene.

A whale calf found itself tangled in shark nets just off Pipeline Beach on Monday morning, 14 August.

“The baby calf got itself tangled in the very top of the nets off Pipeline Beach, we assume in the early hours of the morning,” said Sharks Board’s Head of Operations, Mike Anderson-Reade. “Being at the top of the nets, the calf was able to breathe and was released uninjured.”

 Mike along with another Sharks Board member went out to the calf on an inflatable boat and were able to cut the animal free in just minutes.

Rumors of sardines being netted at Amanzimtoti Beach this past Saturday, 12 August causes ocean enthusiasts to question why the nets were in the water at all.

“There weren’t sardines being netted, but mackerel,” Mike said. “These are common bait fish that are in our waters all year round. There hasn’t been any sardine action lately.”

 

Two Sharks Board members cut the calf free from the IRB. (Photo: Andre Beetge)

 

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