A recreational diver who was hailed a hero on social media for freeing a whale trapped in shark nets off Queensland's Gold Coast will not be fined for his efforts.
Key points: A Gold Coast man who rescued a baby humpback whale from a shark net has avoided a monetary fine
A Gold Coast man who rescued a baby humpback whale from a shark net has avoided a monetary fine Queensland's Minister for Fisheries urges people not to free whales from shark nets
Queensland's Minister for Fisheries urges people not to free whales from shark nets More than $16,000 has been raised for Django via a crowdsourced fundraising page
More than $16,000 was raised online to help the man pay any fine he was issued, but that is now likely to go towards whale research.
The man, who goes by the name Django, dived into the water off Burleigh Heads to untangle the whale, which swam off once freed.
"I had a knife, I didn't really need to use the knife though," Django told media after his adventure.
"He just had his pectoral fin sort of wrapped up and he was about eight to nine metres deep."
As he left the scene, Fisheries Queensland inspectors warned him he could be fined for his actions.
But on Thursday they declared he would not be fined.
A statement from a Fisheries Queensland spokesperson said Django was served with two Fisheries Infringement Notices for entering the exclusion zone around shark control program equipment off Burleigh Heads.
But the statement said he would not be fined because "he has no previous record of infringements with the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol".
"To be clear … the actions we saw earlier this week were reckless and completely unnecessary," the statement said.
Django was diving off the coast of Burleigh Heads when he saw the entangled whale. ( Supplied: Envoy Cull )
A crowdfunding campaign was set up online on Tuesday to help Django pay for any fine that was issued.
A statement on the fundraising website said "any money raised over and above the fine will go to a charity that specialises in research and education for these great mammals".
Queensland Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said the public should not try to free whales from nets.
"It is important that people allow the professionals to do their jobs in circumstances like this," Mr Furner said.
People who have interfered with equipment like shark nets face a maximum fine of $26,690.
Mr Furner said the State Government had committed $1 million over four years to investigate alternatives to shark nets.
ButtsexEurope on May 21st, 2020 at 21:37 UTC »
They say “don’t do this,” yet the professionals were taking forever to show up and the poor whale would drown before they showed up.
Only $1 million AUD invested to develop alternatives to shark nets? No wonder there’s no alternative. That’s barely anything. They used to attach ultrasonic sirens to the nets, which worked on deterring porpoises, but ended up attracting dolphins and whales.
JestersXIII on May 21st, 2020 at 20:31 UTC »
First of all, guy's goes by Django, which is pretty badass. Second, the maximum fine is $26,690 which just seems like a weird number to land on.
Incognidoking on May 21st, 2020 at 17:53 UTC »
Good, heroes shouldn’t be punished