Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Adelaide 21-22 February 2006
The National Whale and Dolphin Research Conference was held on 21–22 February in Adelaide, South Australia. The conference brought together stakeholders interested in research, conservation and management of whales and dolphins in an effort to identify gaps in scientific knowledge and determine future research directions and priorities. The conference was attended by over 100 representatives from conservation and animal welfare organisations, government agencies, research institutions, the whale watching and tourism industries, the oil and gas exploration industry and the defence forces.
The conference was opened by Anne-Marie Delahunt, Assistant Secretary Environment Assessment Branch on behalf of Ian Campbell, Minister for the Environment and Heritage (read opening speech - PDF 30 KB). The conference concentrated on presentations on progress made in research or developments in science since the first whale and dolphin research workshop held in Ballina, NSW in 2004. A broad range of topics were covered including information on threatened whales, inshore dolphins, fishing interactions, whale watching, noise issues, ways of estimating populations, stranding events and other applied research methods. In total participants heard from over 60 scientists, research students, industry and government personnel.
A series of pre-conference workshops focussed on the future research needs for southern right whales, blue whales, humpback whales, minke and other large whales, beaked whales, dolphins and the impacts of noise on cetaceans. The workshops involved scientists working in the field to discuss current research, identify gaps in research and prepare points for discussion on the second day of the conference.
The outcomes of the conference will guide researchers in filling knowledge gaps and assist managers to protect whales and dolphins from threats including habitat degradation, commercial and scientific whaling and climate change. The Australian Government will use the outcomes of the workshop to direct research priorities funded through the Natural Heritage Trust and other funding sources.
We were all saddened to hear of the sudden death of Dr Peter Arnold, only days after his attendance at the conference. The Whale Conservation Team at the Department express our condolences to his family and colleagues.
On the evening prior to the conference Cath Kemper and the staff from the South Australian Museum hosted a tour for conference participants through the skeleton preparation facility at Bolivar. The facility is the most technologically advanced for the preparation of animal bones in the southern hemisphere and holds a large collection of whale and dolphins skeletons. Following the tour, light refreshments were provided by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) sponsored a dinner cruise on the first night of the conference. The cruise was on the Port River which is host to a community of bottlenose dolphins. The cruise provided a 'meet and greet' opportunity for people attending the conference. The generosity of WDCS was greatly appreciated by all who attended the dinner.
