IT’S showtime offshore with migrating whales treating keen eyes along our headlands to a magical show early in the season.
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Thousands of whales are expected to pass our coastline as they head north to give birth to their young, with whale watching at its best in June.
It’s early in the season but good numbers have been spotted off the Mid North Coast.
They will then head back southwards, many with their newborn calves, during spring from September through to November, travelling at a much more leisurely pace.
Meanwhile, the annual ORRCA Whale Census will be held on June 24 in Port Macquarie. To sign up and participate, go to www.orrca.org.au.
The 2017 Whale Census hosted by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and ORRCA saw hundreds of whale spotters with binoculars in hand participate in the annual count with Tacking Point Lighthouse the best vantage point.
The data collected at the Whale Census contributes to the ongoing estimates of the size of the east coast population of humpback whales.
Statistics show the population has been increasing at a rate of 10 per cent per annum for the last 25 to 30 years.
Minister for the Environment Gabrielle Upton said that, for the safety of whales and the general public, there are rules in place that govern how close people can go to whales.
“Boats should go no closer than 300 metres and 400 metres if there is a calf,” Ms Upton said.
“There are also restrictions for how close drones and other aircraft can go to whales.”
The rules are:
- Be alert and watch for whales and dolphins at all times.
- When in a vessel, do not approach closer than 100m to any whale or 50m to any dolphin.
- The caution zone for vessels is the area within 300m of a whale and 150m of a dolphin. No more than three vessels are allowed within the caution zone at any one time and vessels should operate at no wake speeds within this zone.
- Approach whales and dolphins from parallel to and slightly to the rear - not from directly behind or head-on.
- When leaving whales or dolphins, move off at a slow (no wake) speed to the outer limit of the caution zone (300m) from the closest animal before gradually increasing speed.
- Keep a lookout and avoid disturbance to mother whales or dolphins and their calves. Mother and calf will be close together and the calves are sometimes difficult to see.
- If there is a sudden change in whale or dolphin behaviour, move away immediately at a slow steady pace.
- Whales and dolphins sometimes form social groupings and may approach your vessel - if this happens place the engine in neutral and let the animal(s) come to you; or slow down and continue on course; or steer a straight course away from them.
- Do not get into the water if you see a whale or dolphin. If you're already in the water do not disturb, chase or block the path of a whale or dolphin and if possible, return to your vessel or the shore.
Mid North Coast residents can expect to see a variety of whale species this year including humpbacks, minkes, killer whales, southern right whales and brydes whales.
On their journey north, whales will begin to calve around Jervis Bay and head as far as Hervey Bay with their young.
They will commence their return south in August.