Image Gallery: March 2007
HMAS GASCOYNE saves trapped marine life
06 March 2007
On 6 March 2007 while conducting Operation RESOLUTE border patrols, Royal Australian Navy Mine Hunter HMAS Gascoyne lived up to her motto 'Return to the Sea' when the crew released a number of marine life back into the ocean after discovering them entangled in a three-kilometre gillnet.
Coordinated by Border Protection Command , Gascoyne and Australian Customs Vessel Storm Bay responded to a Coastwatch sighting in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
After locating and apprehending an illegal fishing vessel, a further inspection of the area was conducted and a gillnet was found stretching three kilometres along the ocean floor.
“We managed to haul the massive net onboard Gascoyne and were able to release marine life, which had been trapped and were struggling to break free,” said Lieutenant Commander Max Muller, Commanding Officer HMAS Gascoyne.
“At the end of the day, the final tally of marine life rescued was 22 shovelnose rays, three stingrays and an adult loggerhead turtle. Unfortunately the crew could not save all the creatures found entangled in the net, as a further nine shovelnose rays were found deceased” added LCDR Muller.
Earlier on 5 March, Gascoyne rescued a loggerhead turtle that was tangled in empty plastic bottles and string. The turtle was released by the crew and immediately swam away.
| 2007-S0409_001 Chief Petty Officer Raymond Macey, from HMAS GASCOYNE, working to release a struggling shovelnose ray trapped in a gillnet. (Date taken: 07 March 2007) Low Res| High Res |
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| 2007-S0409_003 LEUT Barry Purkiss, assisted by LS Paul Bailey, working to release another entangled shovelnose ray from the gillnet. (Date taken: 07 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 2007-S0409_005
LEUT Barry Purkiss from HMAS GASCOYNE is pictured with Able Seaman (AB) Dallas Hyde and AB Chris Reibelt, working to free a turtle from a snare. (Date taken: 07 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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| 2007-S0409_006
LEUT Barry Purkiss from HMAS GASCOYNE is pictured with Able Seaman (AB) Dallas Hyde and AB Chris Reibelt, working to free a turtle from a snare. (Date taken: 07 March 2007) Low Res | High Res |
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