Humpback whales can be seen along the east and west coasts of Australia from May to August. During these times Humpbacks migrate to breeding areas along the coastlines of Queensland and Western Australia. From June to October, you can also spot some of the forty or more species of whale and dolphin that swim along the nation's coasts.
At 14 m to 19 m long, Humpback whales are fifth largest animal on earth. These whales ‘sing’ long and complex ‘songs’ during the breeding season. Male humpback songs can be heard hundreds of kilometres away and are thought to be the most complex songs produced by any animal. Songs can last for 10 to 20 minutes and may be repeated for several hours. Humpback songs are specific to different populations and each population’s song changes gradually from year to year.
It is believed that as many as 100,000 humpback whales existed before white settlement and the commencement of whaling in Australia. Numbers of humpbacks declined as they swam so close to the shore. They were easy prey for shore-based whalers. When Australian whaling ended in 1962, there were only 200 humpbacks left. Since 1963 this species has been protected, and the present population migrating to north-eastern Australian waters is estimated at 3000. Worldwide, there are thought to be about 25,000 humpback whales left.
Threats to Humpbacks
Humpback whales follow the coastline reasonably close to shore, unlike most most migrating whales which avoid land masses. This makes Humpbacks ideal for whale watchers but also makes them more vulnerable to collision with boats and entagelement in coastal fishing activities.
The growing human population in Australia has seen an increase in the demand for imported goods with a respective increase in commercial shipping (a world-wide phenomenon) entering and leaving our ports. The increase in vessel traffic cutting across the migration pathway presents a significant risk to cetaceans.
The growing need for seafood has seen an increase in the number of commercial fishing operations around the Australian coastline. The deployment of lobster pots, fish traps and long lines along whale migration routes in addition to the occurence of pelagic ghost nets and fishing debris has also seen an increase in the number and types of entangled marine fauna in recent years.
Foundation Projects for Humpbacks
Telemetry Bouys for Humpback Whale Disentanglement Operations
The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife provided funding in 2010 to the New South Wales Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water to purchase two satellite telemetry bouys designed to aid the rescue of entangled Humpback Whales.
Marine Mammal Incident Response Vehicle
In 2010 the Foundation provided funds for the fit out of a Marine Mammal Incident Response Vehicle for the National Parks & Wildlife Service. This vehicle now has the facilities to assist in marine mammal rescues and strandings along the Northern Rivers Region of the Byron Coast Area.
