Gippsland Lakes Burrunan DolphinsA guide to safe boating

The Beautiful Gippsland Lakes ContentsThe Gippsland Lakes are a series of coastal lagoons and fringing wetlands that cover approximately 60,000 hectares. The Lakes is fed by five major rivers with a catchment area of 20,000 km2 and is connected to the ocean at Lakes Entrance.

The lakes and catchments support a diversity of landscapes and wetland types with high conservation value. The lakes themselves are listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Important ecological values supported by the site include extensive seagrass beds, fringing vegetation, habitat for resident and migratory waterbirds, diverse and abundant fish, a range of threatened flora and fauna species, and one of only two known populations of the rare Burrunan dolphin.

The lakes are central to tourism for the region, supporting commercial and recreational fisheries, boating, camping and visitation, and containing important Aboriginal and European cultural values.

The main lakes and the fringing wetlands are constantly changing; caused by seasonal variations and longer term weather effects like droughts and floods. Climate change is also predicted to alter the system further in the future. The Gippsland Lakes will continue to adapt to the changing conditions and, through management effort, key values can be maintained and new values are likely to emerge.

Aboriginal People – The Gunaikurnai Creation Story . . . . . 02-03

The Burrunan Dolphin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 04

Vessel Approach Regulations . . . . . . . . . . 05

Risk & Threats To The Dolphins . . . . . . . . . 06

How Can You Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 07

Fun Facts About The Dolphins . . . . . . . . . . 10

How We Identify Dolphins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Gippsland Lakes Burrunan Dolphins. . . 12-15

Other Marine Mammals In The Gippsland Region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Gippsland Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

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Aboriginal People – The Gunaikurnai Creation Story

In dreaming terms, the first Gunaikurnai came down from the mountains in Victoria’s northwest carrying his canoe on his head.

He was Borun, the pelican. He crossed over the river at what is now Sale, and walked on alone to Tarra Warackel (Port Albert) in the west. As he walked, he heard a constant tapping sound but could not identify it. When he reached the deep water of the inlets, Borun put down his canoe and, much to his surprise, there was a woman in it.

She was Tuk, the musk duck.

He was very happy to see her and she became his wife and the mother of the Gunaikurnai people – they are the parents of the five Gunaikurnai clans.

Gunaikurnai people are the traditional owners of Gippsland. There are approximately 3,000 Gunaikurnai people, and our territory includes the coastal and inland areas to the southern slopes of the Victorian Alps. Gunaikurnai people are made up of five major clans.

The Gunaikurnai people are recognised as Traditional Owners over approximately 1.33 million hectares in Gippsland-extending from west Gippsland near Warragul, east to the Snowy River and north to the Great Dividing Range. This includes 200 metres of offshore territory. Gunaikurnai country is diverse and fertile, the lakes and coastal lagoons form the largest navigable network of inland waterways in Australia.

The Gunaikurnai people see their sea country as equally important, with a huge diversity of marine life that supports a rich tourism and fishing industries.

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Victorian Legal distance from Dolphins & Whales

300m

100m

200m

Jet Skis

Vessels

Jet Skis not allowed closer than ~ 300m from Dolphins & Whales

Boats not allowed closer than ~ 100m from Dolphins

Vessels not allowed closer than ~ 200m from Whales

The Burrunan Dolphin Vessel Approach RegulationsThe Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis) was only formally identified and named as a new dolphin species in 2011, following multiple lines of genetic and morphological evidence (Charlton-Robb et al. 2011). The species is characterised by small, isolated and genetically distinct populations in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. The Burrunan are not found anywhere else on Earth!

With only two known resident populations in Victoria (Gippsland Lakes and Port Phillip Bay), the Burrunan dolphin is already listed as ‘Endangered’.

Burrunan is the Aboriginal name given to dolphins meaning ‘‘name of a large sea fish of the porpoise kind’’.

The Burrunan dolphin is about 2.5m in length and has a distinct tri-colouration pattern, from dark grey on the upper side of the body, a paler grey midline and cream underside. The cream underside can extend over the eye, whilst the grey mid-line forms shoulder blaze (a brush-stroke pattern) below the falcate (curved) dorsal fin. The Burrunan has broad tail flukes, a prominent rounded head and a short stubby rostrum (nose).

Vessels include powered and unpowered vessels such as kayaks and SUPs. It is illegal to touch or feed whales, dolphins or seals and swim/surf near dolphins. Dolphins are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975 and Wildlife (Marine Mammal) Regulations 2009

For more information on water safety around marine mammals please visit https://www.wildlife.vic.gov.au/our-wildlife/whales,-dolphins-and-seals/water-safety-around-marine-mammals

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Risk & Threats To The Dolphins Unfortunately the biggest threat to the dolphins and their environment is us!

Inappropriate vessel approaches can disrupt core biological activities, such as feeding and resting.

Mothers and calves are more at risk, as calves spend more time at the surface and can be more inquisitive, thus are more prone to vessel strikes.

Dolphins are wild animals and need the choice to interact with us on their terms! Reduce speed, do not directly approach and look for signs of avoidance, such as changes in direction, behaviour and/or tail slapping.

Fishing waste (line, hooks and sinkers) can cause entanglements. Dispose of your fishing waste thoughtfully.

Habitat loss or degradation is another important aspect. Whilst we can choose not to swim, the dolphins can’t. They rely on a pristine environment to survive.

Each year, 12.5 million metric tonnes of plastic enter our world’s oceans! Let’s rethink our overuse and over reliance on single use plastics.

How Can You Help?Spotted A Burrunan Dolphin?Become a part of the MMF Citizen Science movement. By logging sightings, we can see where and how the dolphins are using the system, even when we can’t physically be there. Submit your sightings via https://marinemammal.org.au/trakmm/

Follow The RegulationsDo not approach dolphins within 100m if you’re in a vessel (powered or unpowered) and 300m on a jetski. These regulations are enforced by Authorised Officers from DELWP and Parks Victoria. It is OK if the dolphins approach you but please maintain a safe distance and speed.

Call the DELWP Whale and Dolphin Emergency Hotline 1300 136 017 for entangled or stranded dolphins or whales.

Make A DonationThe Marine Mammal Foundation rely upon the generosity of the community, environmental and sustainability conscious partners who want to support the protection and conservation of marine mammals.

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How We Identify Dolphins Marine Mammal Foundation researchers use the dolphin’s dorsal fin to identify each individual dolphin. Dolphins gain nicks and notches, usually on the trailing edge of the dorsal fin, and those markings act like a ‘FINgerprint’. They are born with ‘clean’ fins and gain nicks over time via social behaviour or human-induced causes, such as boat-strikes and nets.

Our researchers spend hundreds of hours on the water collecting photographs and assessing behaviours, interactions, movement patterns and calving rates. By collecting these images we can identify areas of significance and population size.

The Gippsland Lakes has a resident population of about 65 Burrunan dolphins. The resident population is maternal-based, meaning that the females remain in the system year round. In winter, we see a doubling of the population with transient males coming in to feed and mix with the female Burrunan dolphins!

Dolphins are in Order Cetacea; whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Mothers form a strong relationship with their babies (known as calves) which can last for more than three years.

Mothers and calves form nursery pods and are known to ‘babysit’ for each other, known as allomaternal care.

The Burrunan dolphins DNA differs from all other dolphins worldwide! They are thought to have split (separated) from a common bottlenose ancestor over 1 million years ago!

Burrunan dolphins use sound to communicate and find food, known as echolocation.

Individual Burrunan dolphins form strong friendships with other dolphins, known as social alliances.

Dolphins ‘sleep’ by shutting down 1/2 of their brain at a time, so they can remain alert to any danger.

Fun Facts About The Dolphins

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Jimmy Four-NickJimmy Four-Nick is one of the resident Gippsland Lakes Burrunan dolphins. Jimmy got her name due to the four prominant nicks along her dorsal fin. MMF researchers didn’t know the sex of Jimmy until 2013, when she had her first calf!

Jimmy’s ID code is GL10411, as she has nicks along her entire dosal fin. She was first identified in 2007 and has stong associations with other female Burrunan dolphins; Kimmy (GL10412), Nibbles (GL10401) and Nicola (GL206). Each of these females also had calves during 2013 and are often seen together in large nursery pods. These nursery pods allow the mothers to care for their young together.

Jimmy’s 2013 calf, Finn (GL10312), is now becoming independent and we expect that Jimmy should have a new calf in 2017.

NemoNemo is one of the transient male Burrunan dolphins that visit the Gippsland Lakes each winter. Nemo gained his name as his right pectoral fin is missing. MMF researchers noted the missing fin and also wounds around the region. These wounds were identified as a white shark bite! Nemo was lucky enough to get away with just losing his fin.

Nemo’s ID code is GL10420 and he was first identified in 2006. Nemo has a very strong association with three other transient males; Bruce (GL10421), Marlin (GL10422) and Noel (GL10111).

From the dolphin’s DNA, we hypothesise that these transient males are making the journey up from the east coast of Tasmania each year to breed with the resident females. This transient male influx has altered the main calving season from the traditional summer period to winter!

Gippsland Lakes Burrunan Dolphins Gippsland Lakes Burrunan Dolphins

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Gippsland Lakes Burrunan Dolphins Gippsland Lakes Burrunan DolphinsTigerTiger is one of the more easily identifiable young resident Burrunan dolphins. Born in 2013, Tiger has prominant stripes on her right-hand side flank. These markings are known as remnant foetal fold lines. When calves are born they have bumps and fold lines, as they have been ‘folded’ in utero. Most of the time these marks disappear after a few weeks, but in Tiger’s case, the fold lines have depigmented leaving white stripes.

Researchers have been able to identify Tiger as a female so she will remain a resident of the Gippsland Lakes. Tiger has strong associations with calves born in the same year. These bonds are formed based on the mother’s nursery pod associations.

Tiger is yet to have an ID code, as she has not gained any nicks along her dorsal fin. As she gets older she will gain nicks through social behaviour.

YodaYoda is one of the resident male dolphins, so unlike winter transient Nemo, Yoda remains in the Gippsland Lakes all the time. Yoda gained his name as the nicks on his dorsal fin look similar to the outline of the Star Wars character Yoda!

Yoda’s ID code is GL10423, as he has nicks along his entire dosal fin. Yoda was first identified in 2006 and has stong associations with other resident males, Truncie (GL10407) and Hooknose (GL10415). Truncie is one of the largest male Burrunan dolphins.

Interestingly, the resident and transient males do not associate, this may be reflective of competition for the resident females.

The resident Burrunan dolphins use the entire Gippsland Lakes system and have been known to venture high up into the rivers, whilst the transients are often seen at near Metung and The Entrance.

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The waters of the Gippsland Lakes are accessible by boat and are safe and pleasant to navigate but there are areas of shallow water, which may not be identified by navigation aids.

There are several things you can do to ensure safe and enjoyable boating.

For full information, maps, notices and alerts please visit www.gippslandports.vic.gov.au

• Follow Navigation, Cardinal and Isolated Danger marks/beacons; and speed (knots) signage.

• Ensure you have appropriate safety equipment, these may depend on the type and use of your vessel, and can include PFDs, flares, bailing bucket, marine radio, EPIRB.

• Crossing the bar Lakes Entrance is where the Gippsland Lakes system opens into Bass Strait. The entrance and bar can be extremely dangerous given certain conditions, whilst strong tidal influences are experienced in this area. Mariners are requested to contact local Marine Radio Victoria and perform a radio check prior to passage inwards/outwards across the bar.

• Dredging Operations – Dredgers are often operating in the area of The Bar, ‘The Narrows”, Reeves Channel, Cunninghame Arm and the eastern end of Hopetoun Channel. Boat operators should exercise care when in these areas.

• The Victorian Recreational Boating Safety handbook contains guidance and safety information for recreational boaters.

Gippsland PortsOther Marine Mammals In The Gippsland Region

Humpback WhalesHumpback whales migrate through Victoria from feeding grounds in Antarctica to calving grounds in Queensland. Averaging 15m, they have long slender pectoral fins and a small stubby dorsal fin.

Southern Right WhalesOften seen close to shore in winter, these whales have a large bulbous head and downward arched mouth line and large paddle-like pectoral fins. They have large white rough and raised markings around the head region, known as collosities, which help identify individual whales.

Fur SealsBoth Australian and long-nosed fur seals can be seen hauling out on the rocks at Lakes Entrance. The two species can be difficult to distinguish. The Australian fur seals are the largest, with males growing 2.3m in length and weighing up to 360kgs.

marinemammalfoundation

wildlife.vic.gov.au

gippslandports.vic.gov.au loveourlakes.net.au

marinemammal.org.au

For more information

this project is funded by the victorian state government for the gippsland lakes

Marine Mammal FoundationABN: 92 164 506 745

PO Box 2046 Hampton East 3188

info@marinemammal.org.aumarinemammal.org.au

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