AlphaFit
AUSTRALIAN MADE. FIT FOR PURPOSE. Based on the Gold Coast, AlphaFit is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Australian gym equipment specifically for the commercial, strength and conditioning,…
read moreThe phenomenal growth in the humpback whale population along Australia’s south and east coast has resulted in an early start in their annual northerly migration north.
Whale-watching season for tourism operators such as the Sunshine Coast's Whale One traditionally begins on the first weekend in June.
However, a number of sightings off Caloundra and Alexandra Headland in the past two weeks has prompted Whale One owner John Matterson to bring his season forward.
Matterson told the ABC “the whales have come up very early this year.
"There have been quite a few reports and particularly ones in close from Caloundra to Point Cartwright and Alexandra Headland. It is very unusual."
Southern Cross University Marine Ecology Research Centre founding Director Peter Harrison said whales were moving earlier because their numbers had grown so large.
Whale numbers were decimated between 1959 and 1961, mostly by illegal whaling, until there were only a "couple of hundred left".
This season, about 33,000 whales are expected to make the 5,000 kilometre migration north from the Antarctic to Queensland's warm tropical waters.
Professor Harrison said the humpback whale population had grown so large, it was now the biggest it had ever been, adding “as far as we know, the population is now larger than it was prior to whaling.
"Researchers have gone back to look at catch records and our best estimates are the whale population (pre-whaling) was hovering around 26,000 for the natural population size.
"That was almost completely decimated, mostly by illegal whaling from a Soviet fleet which was estimated to have killed 25,000 whales between 1959 and 1961.
"After this, there were possibly only a few hundred whales left and there was almost total extinction."
In 1962 the whaling stations at Tangalooma, on Moreton Island and in northern NSW were closed and there were not enough whales left to make whaling viable.
The population has grown steadily every year, but Professor Harrison said it would start to slow, and there was no concern it would grow too big to be sustainable.
He added “what will happen is the rate of population increase will start to slow and come back to a normal level of growth.”
In tandem with the recovery of humpback whale numbers, killer whale (orca) populations have also risen.
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage Wildlife Team Leader Susan Crocetti advised “we've had quite a lot of reports in the last few weeks of killer whales being seen off the coastline.
"Killer whales have always been around, but in terms of the frequency and the numbers of humpbacks being seen, it certainly does seem to be an increasing trend how many we are observing.
"They will try to prey upon humpback calves. Killer whales tend to love tongues, so sometimes we might get footage of a humpback whale calf that's unfortunately been attacked by killer whales and they'll only take the tongue, which is just amazing."
Craig Sergant, a commercial skipper in Port Macquarie, said orcas predominantly liked to chase female whales with their newborns.
He added “those females generally close very close to the coastline with their calves, so the orcas have to come in close to find those.
"I've found a calf offshore here at Port Macquarie that we assumed the orcas had only just left the calf and removed its jaw.
"We're lucky in Port Macquarie because through the mid-season we've got whales going in both directions for about four weeks.
Images: Humpback whale (top) and Sea World's Whale Watching on the Gold Coast (middle and below).
19th September 2017 - QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT APPROVES SWIMMING WITH WHALES VENTURE IN HERVEY BAY
9th August 2017 - AUSTRALIA’S GREAT OUTDOORS NEEDS TO BE MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR NATURE-BASED TOURISM
29th May 2017 - WHALES GATHERING AT HEAD OF BIGHT FOR AUSTRALIAN CALVING SEASON
18th August 2016 - SWIMMING WITH HUMPBACKS BEGINS AT NINGALOO REEF
9th February 2016 - UNESCO TRAINING WORKSHOP FOR ASIA-PACIFIC’S COASTAL AND MARINE WORLD HERITAGE SITES
23rd November 2015 - MORE WHALE WATCHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORETON BAY
23rd July 2015 - ECOTOURISM AUSTRALIA’S ECO CERTIFICATION GAINS GLOBAL APPROVAL
9th June 2015 - WHALES COMMENCE SEASONAL MIGRATION ALONG EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA
12th November 2011 - VISITOR STATISTICS SHOW WHALE SHARK TOURISM ON THE RISE
20th March 2019 - MORETON BAY BACK IN BUSINESS
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
AUSTRALIAN MADE. FIT FOR PURPOSE. Based on the Gold Coast, AlphaFit is a leading manufacturer and supplier of Australian gym equipment specifically for the commercial, strength and conditioning,…
read moreSince 2019, Active World's development team has been delivering a comprehensive single solution that caters to the diverse requirements of successfully operated and managed leisure centres. The…
read moreINTRODUCTION Abel Sports is Australia’s leading manufacturer and suppliers of Goal Posts, sports ground safety netting systems and coaches boxes for Stadiums ,Sports Clubs, Councils and…
read moreLinks Modular Solutions was a leading provider of high-quality, innovative software solutions for aquatic and recreation facilities. Links Modular Solutions is now part of Xplor Technologies.
read moreBioGuard is Australia and New Zealand’s most trusted supplier of premium, innovative and affordable commercial water treatment systems and chemicals. BioGuard offers a comprehensive range of…
read moreWelcome to AAC – makers of the world’s best wristbands, lanyards, tickets, tokens and full-service print solutions. We are Australia’s premier global manufacturer and supplier of…
read moreBODY BIKE® International is a leading manufacturer of indoor bikes with a 20-year track record of creating the best indoor bikes. Stay connected with Body Bike Australia…
read moreAt easyemployer we've come up with a software solution that manages one of your most important, and often most costly, business resources - your staff. We are helping 100s of clients to…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!