Sighting of tangled whale

The south coast whale season got off to a sad start when spotters saw a whale in distress off Cheynes Beach

Local photographer Raeline Smith captured images of a humpback whale which appeared to be entangled in fishing gear on May 19.

A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions spokeswoman said officers were unable to find the whale after it was reported to them.

“DBCA received a report from a member of the public regarding an entangled humpback whale off the coast of Cheynes Beach,” she said. “A DBCA vessel conducted a search the following morning, however the whale had already moved on.

“A spotter aircraft searched for the whale, but was unable to locate it.”