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watching whales and dolphins safelyWATCHING WHALEs AND DOLPHINs SAFELY

Whales and dolphins are protected by law

Do not disturb!

What is the basic rule when near whales and dolphins? Remain quiet and do not try to feed or touch them.

• Bealertandwatchforwhalesanddolphinsatalltimes.

• Wheninavessel,donotapproachcloserthan100mtoanywhaleor50mtoanydolphin.

• Thecautionzoneforvesselsistheareawithin300mofawhaleand150mofadolphin.Nomorethanthreevesselsareallowedwithinthecautionzoneatanyonetimeandvesselsshouldoperateatnowakespeedswithinthiszone.

• Approachwhalesanddolphinsfromparalleltoandslightlytotherear–notfromdirectlybehindorhead-on.

• Whenleavingwhalesordolphins,moveoffataslow(nowake)speedtotheouterlimitofthecautionzone(300m)fromtheclosestanimalbeforegraduallyincreasingspeed.

• Keepalookoutandavoiddisturbancetomotherwhalesordolphinsandtheircalves.Motherandcalfwill

beclosetogetherandthecalvesaresometimesdifficulttosee.

• Ifthereisasuddenchangeinwhaleordolphinbehaviour,moveawayimmediatelyataslowsteadypace.

• Whalesanddolphinssometimesformsocialgroupingsandmayapproachyourvessel–ifthishappensplacetheengineinneutralandlettheanimal(s)cometoyou;orslowdownandcontinueoncourse;orsteerastraightcourseawayfromthem.

• Donotgetintothewaterifyouseeawhaleordolphin.Ifyou’realreadyinthewaterdonotdisturb,chaseorblockthepathofawhaleordolphinandifpossible,returntoyourvesselortheshore.

Note - approach distances for permitted vessels may be regulated under state and territory laws and may differ from those given above.

What to do if you see whales and dolphins

Watching whales and dolphins in their natural environment is an exciting and rewarding experience. It is important to remember that our actions can disturb these wonderful animals. This is why the Australian Government has worked with state and territory governments, non-government organisations and the whale watching industry to develop the Australian National Guidelines for Whale and Dolphin Watching.

WhalesanddolphinsareprotectedinallAustralianwaters.

InCommonwealthwaterstheyareprotectedundertheAustralianGovernment’sEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 whichestablishedtheAustralianWhaleSanctuary.TheSanctuaryextendsto200nauticalmilesfromAustralia’scoastandterritorialislands.UndertheEPBCActitisanoffencetokill,injure,take,chase,harassorherdanyofthesewildanimals.

Instateandterritorywaterswhalesanddolphinsareprotectedbythelawsofeachstateandterritorygovernment.

Surfacing/diving

Fins/flukesLongpectoralfins(about1/3bodylength).

Blow

Other characteristics Humpbacksareamostspectacularwhale–oftendoingfullbodybreaches,rollsandtailslaps.

Where you might see themInshorealonglengthofeastandwestcoastsbetweenMayandDecember.

SizeLarge(to16m).

Description Darkgreyback.Whiteunderside,finsandflukes.

Humpback whales

Description Blackbodywithwhitecallosities(bumps)onhead.

Surfacing/diving

Fins/flukesNodorsalfin,shortpaddle-likepectoralfins.

Blow

Other characteristics Mayraiseflukesondiving.

Where you might see themInshorewatersparticularlyalongsoutherncoastlinebetweenMayandOctober.Alsoseenonthesouth-easternandsouth-westerncoastlines.HavebeenknowntoenterSydneyharbour.

SizeLarge,stockywhale(to17m).

Southern right whaleS

Where you might see themAllwatersfrompolartotropical,allseasons.

SizeMedium(to10m).

Description Distinctiveblackandwhitepattern.

Killer whaleS

Description SharplyV-shapedhead,throatgroovespresent.Black/darkgreyback,wavyboundarytowhiteunderside.

Surfacing/diving

Fins/flukesCurveddorsalfin,shortpectoralfins.

Blow

Other characteristics Blowanddorsalfinoftenappearsimultaneously.

Where you might see themGenerallyoffshoreinAustralianwatersduringwintermigration.

SizeMedium(to11m).

Minke whaleS

Where you might see themAllwatersfromtropicaltotemperate,allseasons.

SizeSmall(to3m).

Description Darkgreyupperbodywithlightgreyunderneath,robustheadwithashortandstubbybottleshapedbeakforwhichthespeciesisnamed.

Other characteristics Highlysocial,canoccurinverylargegroups.

Bottlenose dolphinS

Behaviour you may seeFLUKE–thewhaleliftsitstailbeforediving,usuallyafterarchingitsback.

BLOW(SPOUT)–thewhalebreathesoutasitsurfaces,blowingacloudofvapourthroughitsblowhole.

TAILSLAP–thewhaleslapsitsflukesonthesurface.

TAILLOB–thewhalewavesitsflukesintheair.

SPyHOP–thewhaleliftsitsheadoutofthewater.

BrEACH–thewhaleleapsoutofthewater,oftenturningtolandonitsback,sideorfront.

PECSLAP–thewhaleslapsitspectoralfinsonthewater.

BOWrIDE–thedolphinridesthewaveinthefront(oroccasionallytherear)ofaboat.

Further informationFor a copy of the Australian National Guidelines for Whale and Dolphin Watching and more information about whales and dolphins, go to www.saveourwhales.gov.au or contact the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources Community Information Unit - email ciu@environment.gov.au or call 1800 803 772.

Where you might see themOpenocean,rarelyseennearcoast.Southernwaters,westernBassstraitandoffshorefromPerthandsouth-westerncoast.

SizeLargestwhalespecies(to30m).

Blue whaleSDescription Blue/greyorslateblue.Headhasadistinctivebroadbasedpointedarchshape.

Surfacing/diving

Fins/flukesSmalldorsalfin,long,pointedpectoralfins.

Blow

Other characteristics Maytravelinpairs,oftenalone.

Surfacing/diving

Fins/flukesMaleshaveverytall(2m)dorsalfin.

Blow

Other characteristics Highlysocial,formlifelongfamilygroups,occasionallyseensinglyorinsmallgroups.

Where you might see themAllwaters,openoceanandinshore,allseasons.

SizeSmall(to2.6m).

Description Darkgreyupperbody,whitebelly,distinctivedarkstripessweepingdownbody,sometan–ochre/yellowonflanks.

Other characteristics Oftenseenbow-riding,andusuallyinlargegroups.

Common dolphinS

IllustrationsbyTonyPyrzakowski.Photos:KillerwhalebyGordonBain,courtesyAAD;HumpbackwhalebyDavePaton;SouthernrightwhalecourtesyAAD;BluewhalebyPeterGillandMargieMorrice;BottlenosedolphincourtesyGBrMPA;MinkewhalecourtesyAAD.