Queenslanders have been urged to use many of the State’s national parks as viewing platforms for the annual migration of humpback whales along Australia’s east coast.
Minister for the Environment, Meaghan Scanlon said more than 25,000 whales were expected to swim past Queensland from now until November as they travelled from and then back to the Southern Ocean.
“We’ve seen whale numbers surge from just 200 in the 1960s to 25,000 now,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Our national parks are a great way to see the annual migration but people should also give them the room they need.”
She said that as an example, Hervey Bay, in the Great Sandy Marine Park, was a sheltered bay where whales could spend weeks between August and November with their young calves.
Senior Marine Scientist at the Department of Environment and Science, 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,” Dr Meager said.
“Department 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.”
He said Queensland wanted 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”.
