<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A young humpback whale has been found dead tangled in shark nets south of Sydney, prompting renewed calls to remove the "barbaric walls of death".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>ORRCA, a non-profit rescue organisation, received reports that the mammal was floating upside down off Wombarra Beach, in northern Wollongong, about 8.30am yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was found with a shark net tangled around its tail and side fin.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/inflation-australia-september-quarter-cpi/7e486a55-1073-4e32-877b-bce90690255f" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Rate cut hopes dealt massive blow as inflation surges again</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cause of death remains unclear until the whale undergoes a necropsy, but choppy weather conditions have hampered efforts to retrieve the body.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The dead whale is feared to attract sharks to the area, with the public advised to stay clear of it and avoid entering the water. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The City of Wollongong Council has temporarily shut the patrolled Scarborough and Coledale beaches to swimmers and surfers as a precaution until further notice.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-wollongong-wombarra-beach-young-humpback-whale-found-dead-in-shark-nets/fafc364d-1dc4-447f-b5bf-bd5af1ed2d7e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Animal groups, councils and politicians have long been calling for shark nets to be removed from beaches across the state, arguing that it does not deter sharks and leads to other endangered sea animals being caught and killed in the nets.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-beaches-almost-90-per-cent-of-animals-caught-in-shark-nets-were-nontarget/2c6761fc-2dc1-4815-91ee-428986bb62e6" rel="" target="_blank" title="data obtained from the Department of Primary Industries"><span>data obtained from the Department of Primary Industries</span></a><span>, which oversees the state's shark program, almost 90 per cent of the animals caught in shark nets in the 2024 to 2025 season were non-target species and 67 per cent died.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The animals killed included four dolphins, seven threatened turtles, and four critically endangered grey nurse sharks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sussan-ley-joy-division-anthony-albanese/f0d0eebd-8371-4373-997f-1761052c26de" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Sussan Ley's attack on PM for his t-shirt smacks of desperation</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Following yesterday's death of a humpback whale, Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans Senator Peter Whish-Wilson urged federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to remove a legislation exemption that allows state-controlled shark control programs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"What further proof do governments need that shark nets do not work, and can even attract sharks to beaches where they can feed on marine wildlife caught in these barbaric walls of death," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Governments can help keep ocean-goers safe by supercharging investment in modern-day alternatives to outdated and ineffective shark nets and drumlines.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These include subsidising shark shield personal deterrent devices, shark spotter programs, eco-shark barriers, bite-proof wetsuits, and improving public education."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The NSW government puts up shark nets at 51 beaches across eight councils between Newcastle and Wollongong when temperatures begin to warm from September.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Six of those councils, including the City of Wollongong, have passed motions in support of removing the shark nets. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/finance/australia-finance-money-missing-super-19-billion/c16d3ca1-86cc-45a3-bb73-b81f5017b9d1" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Seven million Aussies don't know they're sitting on enormous pile of cash</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Department of Primary Industries had planned to remove shark nets at three spots in the Northern Beaches, Waverley and Central Coast councils this summer to trial its effectiveness.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the death of a 57-year-old father killed in a shark attack at Dee Why in September caused </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-shark-nets-nsw-government-backflips-on-removal-trial-after-fatal-attack/46019301-2982-410c-ab85-fbecd94fdeff" rel="" target="_blank" title="the government to scrap the trial completely"><span>the government to scrap the trial completely</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In light of the tragedy that has occurred at Dee Why on the weekend, we need to be sensible about what the community would accept at this time," Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said at the time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9news.com.au has contacted the Department of Primary Industries for comment. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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