A dead humpback whale was discovered off the Illawarra coast, entangled in a shark net used by the New South Wales government. The 8-meter whale was spotted near Wombarra Beach around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday by beachgoers. Responders from the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), Marine Rescue Port Kembla, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) found the juvenile whale dead in the water, with netting wrapped around its body.

Coledale Beach, where the whale was found, is one of five beaches along the Illawarra coast and part of a statewide program that employs shark nets for bather protection. ORRCA president Ashley Ryan noted that the whale was likely migrating south to Antarctica. "It's all speculation at this point, but it does look like the whale has died after becoming caught in the shark net. But without performing a necropsy, we won't be able to say for sure," she said. Ryan added that while live whales have been seen in shark nets in New South Wales, such incidents are not common.

Wollongong City Council Ward Three Councillor Jess Whittaker expressed her sorrow over the incident. "If it's found that this whale has gotten caught in the shark net, struggled and died a really slow and painful death by drowning, that's heartbreaking," she said. "So many people would find that absolutely tragic. Just devastating, really. Horrible."

Efforts to retrieve the whale's carcass were halted due to severe weather conditions. Marine Rescue, Wollongong City Council, and NPWS, with assistance from an ORRCA drone, spent hours attempting the recovery. Marine Rescue commander Stuart Massy stated, "It was reasonably close to the shore, so around 3 p.m. the decision was made to abandon the effort only due to safety."

ORRCA has advised the public to stay out of the water due to an increased risk of sharks in the area. They hope the whale carcass will wash ashore naturally in the coming days. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed that surf lifesaving services had been notified.

The incident has reignited discussions about the controversial shark nets program. Councillor Whittaker, who previously ran for the New South Wales Greens, called for an immediate review of the program. "I think we need an immediate review of the shark net program. I don't think we should wait until the end of the season," she said. "We know that they don't work, it's a public safety hazard and a hazard to wildlife. I think the agriculture minister and the premier should intervene."

The death of the whale has raised concerns about the effectiveness and safety of the shark nets, which stretch about 150 meters and hang approximately 6 meters deep. Sharks caught in these nets are often killed if they belong to a list of target species identified by contractors.