Whale watching in Australia

Sculpture at Hervey Bay, 2013
Humpback Whale, Platypus Bay, Queensland

Whale watching in Australia is a popular recreational pursuit and a tourist activity along various coasts. In 2008, whale and dolphin watching was worth an estimated A$31 million in direct expenditure to the Australian economy with an estimated 1.6 million tourists participating in the activity.[1] Whaling in Australia took place from 1788 to 1978 and was once commercially successful. The Australian Whale Sanctuary was established in 1999 to protect dolphins and whales from hunting. Humpback whales are the most common species seen in the waters surrounding Australia while Southern right whales, Minke whales and Blue whales are also seen.[2]

Whale watchers are restricted to approaches as close as 300 m in order to protect the animals.[3]

West coast

In Western Australia, whales are watched near Cape Naturaliste in the south-east Indian Ocean and at Cape Leeuwin where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet. Whale watching cruises operate along the west coast around Perth and Fremantle and as far north as Broome.[4]

Southern Australia

Great Australian Bight
Big Whale, Eucla

In the Southern Ocean there are many spots to see whales, both from land or aboard ship. Southern Right Whales are seen June–August along the south coast of Australia. They are often readily viewed from the coast around Encounter Bay near Victor Harbor and up to a hundred at a time may be seen from the cliff tops at the head of the Great Australian Bight near Yalata. Albany on the south coast of Western Australia the town where the last land based whaling station in the southern hemisphere was located is now home to a thriving whale watching industry. In Victoria a popular site is Logan's Beach at Warrnambool, as well as in the waters off Port Fairy and Portland.[5] In Tasmania whales can be seen all along the east coast and even on the River Derwent.[6] In South Australia whales are watched in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park areas and closer to Adelaide at Victor Harbor.[7] During a good season it is estimated that approximately 400,000 people visit the region around Encounter Bay and spend some time whale watching.[8]

East coast

Photo of whales at surface with buildings in the background
A couple of Humpback Whales spotted off the Gold Coast, Queensland

In eastern Australia, whale watching occurs in many spots along the Pacific coast. From headlands, whales may often be seen making their migration south. At times, whales even make it into Sydney Harbor. New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife took an active role in 2010 during the peak southern whale watching season between May and November with the launch of its whale watching site. At Cape Solander in the south of Botany Bay community volunteers participate in a long-term scientific study. Each year from the 24 May until the 1 August they count whales swimming past from sunrise to sunset.[9]

The Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay (where the whales stay and rest before migrating) in Queensland, offer reliable whale watching conditions for Southern Humpback Whales from the end of June through to the end of November each year.[10] Hervey Bay is a particularly good spot for whale watching as the whales are not constantly on the move. Instead they exhibit a range of playful behaviours.[11] Each year in August Hervey Bay hosts the Whale Festival which marks the beginning of the whale watching season and includes various ceremonies such as blessing the fleet.[12]

Whale watching operator giving a talk about whale conservation

Whale numbers and activity have increased markedly in recent years. Sydney, Eden, Port Stephens, Narooma and Byron Bay in New South Wales are other popular hot spots for tours from May to November.

Migaloo

One particular whale, which is suspected to be albino, receives special attention due to its all-white appearance. Migaloo was first spotted in 1991 in the waters off Byron Bay.[13] In 2004, skin samples were taken by researchers interested in the whales genetics.[13] Queensland and New South Wales both have laws stipulating that watchers must stay at least 500 m from Migaloo.[3]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Whale and dolphin watching". Department of the Environment. 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Nicky Phillips (23 May 2014). "Where to spot whales in Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Helen Davidson (20 June 2014). "Migaloo the great white whale spotted off Australian east coast". thegaurdian.com (Guardian News and Media). Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Whale watching". Tourism Western Australia. 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Whale Dreams: Spotting whales in Australia
  6. ↑ Tourism Tasmania :: Media Site :: About :: Whales & Dolphins
  7. ↑ "Where to see whales and dolphins in the wild". Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Commonwealth of Australia. 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2010-01-11.
  8. ↑ "South Australian Whale Centre". South Australian Whale Centre. 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Whale watching in NSW". Environment and Heritage. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  10. ↑ "Whale Watching, Hervey Bay". RACQ. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "Where the whales play". Our Fraser Coast. Fraser Coast Regional Council. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Hervey Bay Whale Festival starts this week". Fraser Coast Regional Council. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Adam Withnall (18 June 2014). "Extremely rare white whale ‘Migaloo’ sighted for first time this year off coast of Australia". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2014.