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Sydney Whale Season
Background
Each year the Humpback whales migrate
along the east coast of New South Whales. From May to early December
they and other whale species are swimming past the Sydney coastline
as they head north to mate and give birth and then back south to
their summer feeding grounds in Antarctica.
It is estimated that in 2006, over 7000
humpbacks made the journey north, this number is growing each year as
the population recovers from years of over hunting in the 19th
and 20th centuries. It was estimated that at the beginning
of the moratorium (1986,IWC) on hunting whales, that there were only
300 to 400 Humpbacks left on the east coast migration(group 5). While
it is unknown exactly what the pre whaling population of the group 5
Humpbacks was, estimates range from 30,000 to 80,000.
There are a number of places along the
coast that are well sited for whale watching from the shore in
Sydney. One of the best places to see whales from shore is from Cape
Solander in the Botany Bay national park. Since 1998, volunteers
supported and organised by the NPWS, have carried out an annual
survey of the migrating humpbacks from Cape Solander. Each day, from
sunrise to sunset in all weather conditions, the volunteers count and
log the number of whales passing by. The figures they gather
illustrate the recovery of the Humpback population. In 1998 only 298
whales were spotted over a 35 day period, while in 2006, over 1608
whales were counted over 68 days. This is an increase of 440% over a
9 year period or an increase of 50% per annum, while the season
itself has doubled in length.
This growth has led to a large increase
in whale watching activity in the Sydney region in particular. The
2007 season sees approximately 8 companies offering vessel based
whale watching with a capacity of over 85,000 passengers, up from
only 2 companies with 2,500 capacity in 2001. There has also been a
corresponding increase in shore based whale watching, particularly in
the northern migration season around June and July when the humpbacks
are following the currents in close to the coast. This of course is
harder to quantify, as while there are reliable estimates of numbers
visiting prime locations such as Cape Solander and North Head, it is
possible to watch whales from almost any headland along the coast.
The least recognised part of the whale
watching season is the southern or return migration. This occurs from
early August to early December, during this time, the whales are
following the south flowing Great East Australian Current (or the
EAC). The strongest flow can be anywhere from 2 to 20 nautical miles
off the coast, so it is harder to see the whales from shore, as in
the northern migration, when they tend to stay closer than 2nm. For
this period, vessel based whale watching is the rule. The exception
to this rule are the mother whales with newborn calfs. These pods
often swim very close inshore during the the later part of the
southern migration.
For more information on the growth and
economic value of whale watching in the Sydney region goto IFAW.org
reports download page.
For information on whale watching in
NSW and shore based whale watching please goto NSW
National Parks
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