Preparations have been stepped up for this year's Australian whale migration season with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries officers undertaking pre-season training in marine animal release techniques at Rainbow Beach, Queensland. It is estimated that over 7000 whales undertake the annual east coast migration as they head north to calve in the northern waters. Some of the animals become entangled in shark control equipment.

The training for the officers is as realistic as possible with the use of a simulated whale tail and practice exercises such as cutting nets, releasing ropes and observation exercises. Shark nets are used on open ocean beaches, and are a straight, rectangular piece of net suspended in the water column between buoys. The mesh holes are 50cm wide, small enough to entangle sharks and other large marine species. Most shark nets stretch about 200 metres along the beach and down to a depth of six metres with lines of torpedo floats at the top and sinkers at the bottom to keep the net upright in the water. They are anchored at either end, usually 200 metres from shore. Protected species, like the Great White Shark are also regularly caught in these nets in significant numbers.

The drowning of a baby humpback whale in a shark net off Queensland's Gold Coast has reignited a debate about shark nets but authorities in Queensland are standing firm, arguing priority should be given to the safety of humans. Shark nets are in place off 84 Queensland beaches.