Worst year on record for Queensland marine strandings
09/05/2007 00:00:00
67 confirmed starndings included:
- 12 Great whales
- 4 Small whales
- 12 Rare dolphins
- 39 Non-rare dolphins
Of the 70 reported strandings:
- 3 were alive and left to natural processes.
- 13 were rescued and released.
- 4 were found alive but subsequently died.
- 50 were found dead and in various stages of decomposition.
November 2006. There were 70 reports of marine strandings in Queensland in 2005, the worst year on record. 43% of these were caused by shark nets which accounted for 6 whales (5 were freed) and 23 dolphins, of which 21 died in the nets.
Most strandings occurred in southern Queensland from
Hervey Bay south. This is consistent with the results from previous years. The Gold Coast and Moreton Bay reported the highest concentrations of strandings in 2005 (16 and 15 respectively).
The year 2005 saw a continued increase in the loss of rare dolphins: 10 Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins and 2 Australian Snubfin Dolphin (only recognised as a distinct species in 2005); 8 rare dolphins were lost in 2004. This is of continued concern given the very limited population sizes of these inshore dolphins in Queensland. 4 of the 11 deaths were linked to human related causes. 2 drowned in shark safety nets and 2 others had net marks. One was also released alive from a shark safety net.
See the full report.
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