Rescue teams free an eight-metre humpback whale caught in shark nets off Coolangatta Beach on the Gold Coast on 1 September 2009. (ABC News: TV still)The Queensland Government has released details of marine animals caught in shark nets off the Queensland coast.
Sixteen dolphins, six whales, one dugong, 109 sting rays and 30 turtles were inadvertently caught in the nets in the past 12 months.
All of the whales and turtles were released but 12 dolphins, the dugong and 27 stingrays died.
Shark Control Program spokesman Tony Ham says the government is working to reduce shark nets' impact on other marine life.
"We're currently working on a sausage-style bait to try and discourage dolphins from stealing baits from our drumlines - so that they don't become habituated to the shark control gear and hopefully that will lead to a reduction of captures as well," he said.