Due to COVID-19, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) cancelled their specialist whale disentanglement training that was scheduled to take place at Narooma today (June 2).
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Ahead of the annual humpback migration season, around 30 South Coast staff were scheduled to undertake the training to safely free a large whale tangled in ropes and buoys.
It was understood a staff member may have been in contact with the Victorian person who later tested positive to COVID-19 after visiting Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach and Vincentia on May 23 and 24.
For safety precautions, the training was cancelled. A spokesperson hoped it would be rescheduled in future.
The official whale watching season kicked off on June 1, with the communities along the NSW coast playing host to these extraordinary creatures on their 5000-kilometre journey from Antarctica to Queensland waters.
"Just before the humpback migration season every year we undertake this two-day training that includes working in inflatable vessels to free a four-metre inflatable 'whale tail' entangled in lines and ropes," the spokesperson said.
READ MORE: NSW South Coast on high alert for COVID-19
"Staff are also trained to attach satellite tracking devices to an entangled animal to help teams track and relocate the whale in case an immediate rescue is not possible.
The spokesperson said annual whale count numbers have been steadily increasing by around 10 percent each year: "which is extremely good news".
"But naturally with more whales moving along our coast we can only expect that more may become entangled in fishing gear, wash up onto our beaches or be struck by boats," the spokesperson said.
"The best way for people to help these animals is to immediately report any sightings of entangled or distressed whales to authorities.
"Any attempt to disentangle a distressed whale is inherently dangerous and complicated by changing sea conditions, the enormous size of the whale and its instinctive behaviours.
"Only highly trained, specialist teams should attempt to free a trapped whale and our goal with this training is to make sure our staff are equipped and ready to respond."
Anyone who sees a distressed or entangled whale should not attempt to free it but call NPWS on 13000PARKS (1300 072 757) or ORRCA on 02 9415 3333.
The NPWS South Coast Large Whale Disentanglement team is one of several along the NSW coast trained to intervene if an animal is reported in distress.
