Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Australia has become a world leader in the protection and conservation of whales since the end of Australia's whaling industry in 1978. Australian waters are home to 45 species of whales and dolphins. The protection of these species at domestic, regional and international levels is a priority for the Australian Government. Despite being protected in Australian waters, whales and dolphins are still threatened by human activities.
Whales, dolphins and porpoises are often collectively referred to as Cetaceans (from their scientific family name, Cetacea).
Whale protection, strandings, entanglements and the growing interest in whale watching are major areas of focus for Australia's whale conservation programs. Initiatives are also being developed to address other factors affecting whale conservation, including lack of knowledge concerning population, abundance and distribution of cetacean species, habitat degradation, climatic change, and whaling.
General information on the biology, population status, distribution and habitat of cetaceans can be found on the Species Profile and Threats Database.
Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) are protected in Australian waters:
Five whale species are currently listed as nationally threatened by the Australian Government:
The recovery plans identify whaling and habitat degradation as key threats to whales, and establish a range of programs to ensure the ongoing recovery of the species. Projects such as the satellite monitoring which was a key action identified in the recovery plans will improve knowledge of whale movements and migratory pathways, and help protect important habitats. The recovery plans for these five species will be in force until 2010.
Recovery plans:
Activities in the Australian Whale Sanctuary that may impact on whales, dolphins and porpoises may require a permit. It is an offence to kill a whale, dolphin or porpoise in the Australian Whale Sanctuary. It is also an offence to injure, take, trade, keep, move, harass, chase, herd, tag, mark or brand a whale, dolphin or porpoise in the Australian Whale Sanctuary without a permit.
Permits may only be issued by the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources after appropriate consideration of all impacts of the activity has been taken into account. Permits cannot be issued to kill a whale, dolphin or porpoise or to take one for live display.
The offences relating to whales, dolphins and porpoises also apply to Australian citizens outside of Australia, including in other countries and international waters. Apply for a cetacean permit
As well as the general protection offered to whales, dolphins and porpoises in the Australian Whale Sanctuary, the EPBC Act also provides additional protection for many cetacean species throughout all of Australia's waters. Approval is required to undertake any action that may have a significant impact on one of these species, the Australian Government undertakes a rigorous assessment and approval process to ensure potential impacts are avoided or minimised on such actions.
The Australian Government also works closely with industry to develop guidelines that aim to ensure that potential impacts on whales and dolphins are avoided. For example, the 'Guidelines on the application of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to interactions between offshore seismic operations and larger cetaceans' describe the procedures required to avoid or minimise impacts on whales from seismic survey activities. These guidelines are currently being reviewed to ensure ongoing best practice. More about the EPBC assessments and approvals process
The Australian Government is working on a number of national initiatives aimed at improving cetacean conservation. This work involves close collaboration with state and territory governments, researchers and conservation groups to provide improved protection for whales. These include:
National standards for the collection of biological samples from stranded whales are being developed to improve scientific knowledge on why whales strand.
Whales are increasingly found entangled in marine debris, fishing and aquaculture equipment. Best practice training for government staff involved in disentanglement operations is conducted annually around the country. More about entanglements
Whale watching is big business and was estimated to be directly worth $29 million a year in Australia as of 2003. During the past five years the industry has grown by 15% per year (reference: IFAW Report 2004, The Growth of Whale Watching Tourism in Australia). Much of the growth in Australian whale watching is land-based. Humpbacks and southern right whales are the most popular species to watch as they migrate relatively close to the Australian coastline.
In 2005, the Australian National Guidelines for Cetacean Whale and Dolphin Watching 2005 were reviewed in order to establish a national framework for the regulation of interactions between people and whales, dolphins and porpoises. These guidelines apply equally to commercial and recreational whale watching and have the dual aims of:
The Australian Government is funding a range of projects aimed at determining the population numbers and trend, migratory pathways and important habitat areas (calving, resting and feeding) for a number of whale species. A number of other organisations throughout Australia are also conducting and funding cetacean research. More about research and conservation of whales and dolphins
State and territory governments are responsible for conservation and protection of whales in coastal waters (out to the 3 nautical mile limit). This includes responding to strandings and entangled whales. State and territory governments also manage most of the human/whale interactions, and whale watching.
The Australian Government is party to a number of multi-lateral agreements related to whales. These include:
Twenty two whale or dolphin species that occur in Australian waters are also listed under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and are therefore classed as migratory species under the Act. These are: