Whale breaching off the Australian east coast
Although the Government of Japan’s sponsored Antarctic whale hunt last season killed an admitted 266 minke whales and one fin whale, the annual migration north to warmer waters is well under way.
Right Wales tend to summer in the Great Australian Bight, while Minke and Fin whales have rather secretive migration paths. So it is the Humpback Whale which is most often sighted between May and November as it travels to and from its northern feeding and breeding grounds.
From Emerald Beach (near Coffs Harbour) right up to Tweed Heads and the NSW-Queensland border, North Coast residents and visitors are sure to sight whales in 2012 as the Humpback migration is expected to be around 17,000 cetaceans strong.
If you are out on the water as a whale passes, remember that the law requires that you do not closely interact with these mammals.
From the NSW Dept. of Environment & Heritage:
Definitions
Approach distance—see figures 1-3 (referred to as 'prescribed distance' in the Regulation): a distance beyond which a vessel or person may not approach a marine mammal.
Caution zone: a distance of between 100 m and 300 m from a whale and between 50 m and 150 m from a dolphin. In the caution zone, vessels must travel at a constant slow speed and leave a negligible wake.
Negligible wake: wake that does not create waves big enough to make nearby boats move.
Prohibited vessels: these are vessels that can make fast and erratic movements and not much noise underwater, so there is more chance they may collide with a marine mammal. Such vessels include personal motorised watercraft like jet skis, parasail boats, hovercraft, hydrofoils, wing-in-ground effect craft, remotely operated craft or motorised diving aids like underwater scooters.
Vessels: these are watercraft that can be used as transport including motorised or non-motorised boats, surfboards, surf skis and kayaks.
Figure 1: Approach distances for whales
Figure 2: Approach distances for dolphins
How close can vessels and aircraft get to whales and dolphins?
·
For a vessel, the approach distance is 100 m from a whale or 50 m from a dolphin.
For a vessel, the approach distance is 100 m from a whale or 50 m from a dolphin.
· When calves are in the pod, the approach distance for a vessel is 300 m from a whale or 150 m from a dolphin.
· For a prohibited vessel, the approach distance is always 300 m from a whale or dolphin.
· Helicopters or gyrocopters must not get closer (in height or distance) than 500 m to a whale or dolphin.
· Other planes must not get closer (in height or distance) than 300 m to a whale or dolphin.
Figure 3: Height restrictions for whales and dolphins
At what speeds can vessels travel around or approach marine mammals?
Vessels must always travel at a safe speed which will enable them to stop in time to avoid distressing or colliding with an animal. This speed cannot be expressed as a maximum number of knots as it will vary according to circumstances and conditions. In the caution zone, the speed must be constant and slow, and leave a negligible wake.
Whales and dolphins rely on sounds underwater to communicate, find food and navigate so vessel operators need to travel at a speed that will minimise the noise around them, and ensure their vessel does not suddenly change its direction.
For details of how to minimise wake from a vessel visit NSW Maritime's website or phone 131 256.
How should a vessel operator approach a whale or dolphin?
First, assess the direction the animals are travelling in then plan a course so your vessel will not cut across their path, or put the vessel directly in front of or behind them. Approach the caution zone at an angle of not less than thirty degrees from their direction of travel at a steady constant speed, being aware of changes in animal behaviour or direction.
Under the Regulation, a vessel operator cannot enter the caution zone if there are more than two other vessels already in it. This may mean waiting for other vessels to leave. If there are two or fewer vessels in the caution zone, continue on course at a constant slow speed and travel alongside the animals, no closer than 100 m away from whales or 50 m from dolphins.
If there is a calf in a group (defined as half the length of the adult of the same species), it is illegal under the Regulation to enter the caution zone.
Be aware of other vessel movements and changes in animal movement or behaviour. Never chase or encircle a whale or dolphin or drive through the middle of a group.
