Joint response leads to successful whale disentanglement off Crescent Head
A coordinated multi-agency response over the weekend resulted in the successful disentanglement of an eight-metre humpback whale off Point Plomer headland near Crescent Head.
The operation began on Saturday morning (8 August 2026) after reports were received to ORCCA of a humpback whale swimming south with rope and floats trailing behind it off Crescent Head.
Volunteers from ORRCA sighted the whale from shore, while a fishing boat assisted responders by maintaining visual contact with the whale.
Marine Rescue NSW launched a vessel from Port Macquarie, carrying National Parks and Wildlife Services’ (NPWS) Large Whale Disentanglement Team (LWDT) personnel and an NPWS rigid inflatable boat (RIB) to the whale’s location.
The LWDT deployed their RIB from the vessel and carefully approached the whale. The highly trained team successfully removed rope and attached floats entangled around the whale’s tail, flukes and back, allowing the animal to continue its journey.
All recovered rope and floats were retrieved from the water and brought ashore for examination and disposal.
This was the second successful whale disentanglement off the NSW north coast on Saturday, with NPWS and ORRCA also assisting Sea World in a rescue operation near Byron Bay.
These positive outcomes highlight the value of rapid reporting by members of the public, providing responders with the best opportunity to assess the situation and intervene where safe and appropriate.
If you see an entangled whale, please report its location, direction and speed to NPWS on 1300 072 757 or the ORRCA Rescue Hotline on 02 9415 3333.
Each year, humpback whales undertake huge migrations, travelling up to 10,000 km from the Southern Ocean to breeding grounds in warmer climates.
As they travel through inshore Australian waters, they are susceptible to becoming entangled in fishing gear and other marine debris which can lead to fatigue, injury, and death.
Disentangling marine wildlife is a complicated and dangerous operation. It is not always successful and requires highly skilled and trained operators as well as the right conditions to safely approach the animal.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Incident Controller Andrew Pitzen said:
“This successful disentanglement was a fantastic example of multiple organisations working together seamlessly to achieve the best possible outcome for the whale.”
ORRCA President Ashley Ryan said:
“It’s been a really challenging year for entanglements, so this is a fantastic outcome. We’re seeing a growing number of humpback whales along the coast, and unfortunately that means we’re also seeing more entanglements year on year.
"ORRCA and NSW National Parks have worked side by side throughout, and we’re really proud of the way we’ve been able to work together to give these whales the best possible chance.”
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector John Murray said:
“Volunteers and a rescue vessel from Marine Rescue Port Macquarie played an important role in this operation, and to see the whale successfully freed was extremely rewarding to all involved.”