BOATERS are being asked to watch out for southern right whales which have made their seasonal return to Victorian coastal waters. The Conservation Regulator says southern right whales visit Victoria’s coast from May to October to give birth and raise their young.
Restrictions on boats include lowering engine noises which can interrupt whispering between mothers and calves to avoid predators. It is believed there are about 300 southern rights left in the south-east population. The endangered whales are vulnerable to vessel strikes, and boaters are being encouraged to watch out for the whales as they have no dorsal fin and can look like floating logs when resting near the surface.
Boats must slow to five knots within 300 metres of a whale and less than 10 within one kilometre. Swimmers and surfers must stay at least 50 metres away and boats must keep at least 200 metres, jet skis 300 metres, and aircraft, including drones and helicopters, 500 metres, between them and whales.
Humpback whales also pass through Victorian waters and will be most active during their northern migration in June and July, and their southern migration in September and October.
To help the Arthur Rylah Institute’s Whaleface project whale sightings and photographs can be uploaded at whaleface.swifft.net.au
First published in the Mornington News – 4th June 2024
