Commercial and recreational boat users are being reminded to report entangled whale sightings following a successful whale disentanglement over the weekend.

Staff at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ (DBCA) Parks and Wildlife Service were notified on Saturday of a 10-metre humpback whale entangled in ropes and floats, eight nautical miles off the coast of Two Rocks.

Parks and Wildlife Service staff responded to the incident. Their actions resulted in the whale being freed in a matter of hours.

Two Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) also provided assistance from the mainland.

DBCA staff were notified about the entangled whale by the crew of a commercial fishing vessel in the area, who stayed with the animal until staff arrived.

DBCA operations officer Sam Cain, who oversaw the disentanglement, said the information provided by the fishers was crucial.

“The willingness of the crew to stay within a safe distance of the whale so we could make our way out to the right location highlights how industry can help these animals,” he said.

“Overall, the operation took six hours, with over two hours spent on the water getting close to the whale in order to carefully disentangle it.” “Having the whale freed and allowing it to continue its migration was a rewarding sight to see.”

There are whale disentanglement teams located across the State, from as far north as Broome to Esperance in the south with support from DPIRD and the Department of Transport.

To report entangled whale sightings call the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055.