Whale Sanctuaries

In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (24 September 2014). (First Session)

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change): The Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation has received this advice:

1. The government is aware of this process. The research activity was undertaken by the South Australian Research and Development Institute with all relevant state and commonwealth permits and with Primary Industries and Regions SA Animal Ethics approval, and followed the protocols developed by the Australian Marine Mammal Centre, Australian Antarctic Division, for satellite tagging of large whales.

2. I am advised that at no stage during any approach of cow-calf pairs, whether during satellite tag deployment or biopsy sampling, were calves separated from their mothers.

3. I am advised that no whales were put at risk during this process. The driver of the inflatable vessel has extensive experience of driving around large whales Approaches lasted on average 5 minutes. If any individual showed a high level of evasive behaviour, the approach to tag or sample that individual was halted.

The study ran from 6 to 8 September 2014, and cliff-top counts of whales provided by the Great Australian Bight Right Whale Study group recorded 70 individual whales on 5 September at the Head of Bight and 58 whales on 11 September.