Humpback whale freed from fishing gear off Forresters Beach

A humpback whale has been released from fishing line off Forresters Beach after it was spotted with gear caught around its tail.

ORRCA was alerted by a member of the public who saw the whale between Terrigal and Bateau Bay. Spokesperson Pip Jacobs said drone monitoring was used during the rescue.

Ms Jacobs said the whale’s tail fluke was badly affected by the entanglement, making the rescue difficult because the animal was not lifting its tail from the water.

The crew worked through the afternoon before removing all of the line.

The Central Coast rescue came during what ORRCA described as an unprecedented weekend for whale entanglements along the NSW coast.

Ms Jacobs said there were five entanglements reported statewide, while ORRCA and national parks teams were also responding to a live stranding at Stockton Beach near Newcastle.

Other reports came from Sussex Inlet, Cook Island, Merewether Beach and an unconfirmed entanglement at Lennox Head.

At Stockton Beach, a 1.8-metre melon-headed whale was euthanised after rescue efforts by residents, a veterinarian and crews were unable to save it.

Ms Jacobs said ORRCA responded to 28 whale entanglements last year and had already recorded 24 this season by July.