Whale watchers encouraged but required to observe distance regulations

With humpback whales making their annual migration along Australia’s east coast and with many of national parks offering the perfect viewing platform, the Queensland Government is encouraging whale watching while also requiring the observation of regulations and restrictions.

Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said more than 25,000 whales are expected to swim past Queensland from now until November as the whales travel from and return to the southern ocean.

Minister Scanlon referred to the Queensland Government’s almost $1 billion investment for the environment more broadly as a contributing factor to whale numbers surging from just 200 in the 1960s to 25,000 now.

Minister Scanlon added “whales will be here to calve and breed, so it’s important that you give them space.

“Our national parks are a great way to see the annual migration but also give them the room they need – it’s part of the reason why we’re investing more than $50 million to upgrade them.

“For example, Hervey Bay, in the Great Sandy Marine Park, is a sheltered bay where whales can spend weeks between August and November with their young calves.

Minister Scanlon encouraged families over coming months to book accommodation right along the Queensland coast, experience local attractions and make time to see the whales along the coastlines of Queensland’s national parks.

Queensland Department of Environment and Science Senior Marine Scientist Dr Justin Meager urged boaties in particular to be wary of whales migrating and to be safe when heading out onto the water.

Humpbacks swim along the coast day and night at this time and can surface without warning, and  are known to nudge boats and also to slap their tails when close to vessels, or leap out of the water when breaching.

“Department of Environment and Science wildlife officers and marine park rangers will be out and about as the whales arrive in Queensland waters reminding recreational boaties and commercial tour operators that while wildlife watchers celebrate, it’s also a time for boaties to exercise great care.

“We want to protect these beautiful marine mammals, but we also want to protect our boaties – humpbacks are unpredictable, up to 40-tonne mammals and you don’t want to get in their way.”

Dr Meager said special regulations and restrictions applied when whales migrated in Queensland waters, with details at https://environment.des.qld.gov.au/wildlife/animals/discovering-wildlife/watching-marine-mammals/rules

Penalties apply for non-compliance.

Unfortunately, whale migrations also mean occasional whale strandings.

Stranded whales should be reported as soon as possible to the Department of Environment and Science on 1300 130 372.

If waiting for expert help to arrive to a stranded whale, people should take care of their own health and safety first, and not attempt to push a stranded whale back into the water. This adds to the whale’s distress and potentially places people in danger.

Image: Courtesy of The Great Sandy Straits Marina in Hervey Bay.