Whale season ahead: boat with care

The Conservation Regulator is encouraging boat operators to slow down and watch for whales, ahead of southern right whales and humpback whales returning to Victoria's coastal waters and bays.

From May to October, southern right whales use Victorian waters to birth and raise their young, after migrating from sub-Antarctic feeding grounds.

During this time, southern right whale mothers and calves are vulnerable to vessel strikes as they spend time close to land in calm, sheltered areas, bringing them into closer proximity to boating activity.

"This is an important time of year when southern right whales return to Victoria's coast, and slowing down and keeping your distance on the water is one of the simplest ways people can help protect them," said Barwon South West Regulatory Operations Manager Glenn Sharp.

"Victoria's coastal waters and bays are vital for southern right whales, and following the rules around whales helps keep everyone safe and ensures whales can use these waters without disturbance."

The Conservation Regulator is asking boaters to take simple steps to reduce the risk of harm:

• Stay alert: With no dorsal fin, southern right whales are hard to spot and can look like floating logs when resting near the surface.

• Slow down: Within 300m of whales, boats must slow to five knots, and within one kilometre of whales, boats should stay under 10 knots.

• Give them space: Follow distance rules, stay out of their way, and avoid boxing them in. If you find yourself too close to a whale, put the engine in neutral and let them pass.

Swimmers and surfers must stay at least 50 metres away, boats must keep at least 200 metres, jet skis 300 metres, and aircraft, including drones and helicopters, at least 500 metres away from whales.

Community members can help protect whales by reporting swimmers and vessels that breach minimum approach distances to Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000. Penalties may exceed $4000.

Southern right whales are listed as endangered in Victoria, with only around 300 individuals remaining in the south-eastern Australia population.

The community can support conservation efforts by reporting sightings of whales to the WhaleFace photo-identification project, to help Arthur Rylah Institute researchers track individual whales over time.

Last year, the project recorded 95 southern right whale sightings along the
Victorian coast, with the majority of sightings around Portland and Warrnambool.

Sightings were also recorded along the Surf Coast and Great Ocean Road, including locations such as Torquay, Fairhaven and Port Campbell.

Further sightings were along the Mornington Peninsula, around Phillip Island and as far east as Sandy Point in Gippsland.

"Southern right whales, including cow-calf pairs, have been recorded across the entire Victorian coast, so it's important that all water users are looking out for them - especially during May to October," Arthur Rylah Institute Director, James Todd said.

Sightings can be reported at: whaleface.swifft.net.au/
Find out more about whales at the Island Whale Festival, July 3-5.
islandwhales.com.au/