SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALES

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (14:45): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister inform the chamber about the recently publicised aerial survey of southern right whale populations along our coast?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:45): I would use pictures, but I think they are out of order. I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Just a few weeks ago, researchers from various institutions and the non-government sector undertook an aerial survey of the southern right whale populations along our coast.

The southern right whale is, of course, a very important marine mammal to our state. They draw tourists to our state through June to October, I am told, especially through the nursing months of July and August, when mothers and calves can be seen close to shore. Popular viewing locations include the Fleurieu Peninsula and more remote regions of our West Coast, such as the Head of the Bight.

This aerial survey, I am told, was a first. Traditional surveys had been undertaken from the coastline with telescopes and other viewing equipment, but this could never really provide a fully accurate picture. Aerial surveys have been conducted by the Western Australian Museum between Ceduna and Cape Leeuwin, I am told, but one tracking east had not been conducted until now.

Following on from the good quality data and research the Western Australian Museum has provided on their side of the border, this survey was undertaken to get a better understanding of the populations of whales on the eastern side, but also their range, behaviour and personal identifying features. The researchers travelled from Ceduna all the way to the south coast of New South Wales. Armed with just a notebook, a camera and an aircraft, it took one week to fly along the coast observing whales and documenting the data.

About 35 whales, including 11 calves, were spotted between Ceduna and the Victorian border. This included three adults at Sceale Bay, a cow and a calf at Point Drummond and three adults at Coles Point near Coffin Bay. Photos were taken to document the callosite patterns of individual whales. Mr President, no doubt you have noticed those patterns on the top of whales and wondered what they were. Those patterns are unique to whales and they can be an identifying feature. I am told that they are in fact colonies of lice that reside on the heads of the animals. These patterns are an easy method to identify individual whales.

This was the first stage in what is planned to be a three-year project that will involve further annual surveys in order to obtain a complete picture. However, this particular survey did not take in at this time the Head of the Bight. Following on from the success of this most recent survey, however, officers from my department, together with support from the commonwealth, will now conduct aerial surveys of the population of whales found at the Head of the Bight.

I am advised that it will take about six years of surveying to get a true picture of the whales, their total population and their movements, but doing this will also enable the whales to be surveyed at least twice, which is important in order to understand their life history and patterns.

I am told that this year approximately 150 southern right whales were seen at the Head of the Bight, including four rare white calves. The Head of the Bight has, of course, the biggest population of southern right whales in Australia and surveying this particular spot will provide much knowledge and data for research and also assist in the ongoing recovery and conservation of this wonderful species.

By 1750, I am told, the closely related North Atlantic right whale was close to extinction due to intensive whaling practices. Discovery of the southern right whale in Australia and New Zealand led to a new whale rush and the population here suffered almost a similar fate. Following the advent of industrial whaling, the numbers of right whales crashed so rapidly that in 1937 the southern right whale was banned from being caught. In the 1982 book, History of Modern Whaling,by Tonnessen and Johnsen, the underestimated figure of the total right whales caught through whaling was 38,000 in the South Atlantic, 39,000 in the South Pacific, and 1,300 in the Indian Ocean.

Thankfully, the population of our coast is now, it seems, recovering, but it is recovering very slowly. This survey will help us understand this creature and the ways we can ensure that this wonderful animal is found along our coast for many years to come.