A Sydney research team, which includes scientists from Macquarie University, Taronga Zoo and the state government, have placed a test alarm, known as a pinger, in the path of migrating whales on a mooring off the coast of Cape Solander at Botany Bay.

They hope the alarm, which transmits a low frequency beep the whales can hear, will warn the animals to avoid nets and other man-made obstacles.

Every year tens of whales become entangled or trapped in nets as they migrate from the Southern Ocean to warmer waters in northern Australia. Such collisions often result in serious injury and sometimes death for the animal.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/whale-watch/researchers-lower-the-alarm-as-more-whales-are-snared-20120726-22v5h.html#ixzz21nUUNleI