DPaW gear up for whale aid

Department of Parks and Wildlife staff in Busselton will be able to better respond to reports of whales tangled in marine debris, thanks to new equipment and training.

The equipment was paid for by Royalties for Regions funding and includes boats and vital pieces of gear including knives, with the money also going towards establishing facilities, creating brochures and funding staff positions.

DPaW's Ngari Capes Marine Park co-ordinator Matthew Dasey said after two whale entanglements last year in close succession, staff realised the importance of having specialised gear at hand.

Mr Dasey said a number of staff had now also been trained in whale disentanglement methods by leader in the field, Doug Cochran.

"Everything is coming from this Royalties for Regions funding," he said. "In this area it is essential."

Mr Dasey said the population of humpback whales was hard to estimate but he said there was tens of thousands of humpbacks now making their annual migration.

He said during that migration, whales could become tangled in ropes and other items, which were a major problem for the species.

"Even though they've picked up all this gear, they can still survive for years probably," he said. "In the end though, it could kill them."

Mr Dasey said there were many dangers involved in the job to save the animals, with some whales becoming distressed.

"We obviously want to help the whales because they're rare and beautiful as well as that we need to keep our people safe as we get up really close to the whales," he said.

"There have been cases of people going out of boats with knives and clippers. The whales don't know that we're trying to help them.

"Around the world, there have been a couple fatalities but we do it in the safest possible way."

Mr Dasey said 15 to 20 years ago, there were about one or two whales reported tangled every season.

He said now it can be a dozen or up to 20. "There has been a huge increase in the humpback whale population, which is great for that species but it does mean the likelihood of entanglement rises," he said.

The Royalties for Regions funding will support the work for six years before responsibility is returned to DPaW.