Kimberley Whale Survey Trip 2010 - new nursery areas identified!

New Humpback whale nurseries discovered by researchers and the Wilderness Society make proposed industrialisation of the Kimberley region even more damaging.

Whale Tail - James Price Point, photo: Jenita Enevoldsen

The Wilderness Society & Kimberley Whale Watching’s 2010 Whale and Reefs Expedition surveyed new areas of the Kimberley coast, with over 460 Humpback whale sightings and new calving areas discovered off the Adele Islands.

This discovery means Humpback whales are breeding much further out from the Kimberley coast than thought, and means the damaging impacts of the proposed James Price Point gas hub are even worse.

Take Action! Tell Woodside and Premier Barnett to back off - Sign our Cyber Action Now!!

The Whale Survey

Researchers Richard Costin and Annabelle Sandes led the eight day whale survey through remote areas of the Kimberley coast including Camden Sound and the Adele Islands, up to 30km offshore.

Also explored were Turtle Reef and Montgomery Reef, te largest inshore reef in Australia, and James Price Point - the site of the proposed gas plant where Premier Barnett is using heavy-handed tactics to acquire land.  

Read the latest about the gas hub here 

The Results

The survey tracks covered six different lines, with highlights being:

• Adele Island to Lacepede Islands, 198 Humpacks ; 7 Cow/calf pairs (18 Whales sighted per/hr)
• Lacepede Islands to Broome, 111 Humpacks; 9 Cow/calf pairs (15.85 Whales sighted per/hr)
  
• Broome to Lacepede Islands, 51 Humpback whales; 1 Cow/calf pair (9.71 Whales sighted per/hr)
• Camden Sound to Adele Island, 48 Humpacks ; 2 Cow/calf pairs (5.81 Whales sighted per/hr)
• Raft Point to Camden Sound, 41 Humpbacks whales; 3 Cow/Calf pairs (7.45 Whales sighted per/hr)
• Talbot Bay to Raft Point, 14 Humpback whales (3.94 Whales sighted per/hr)

The official 2010 Whale Survey Report will be compiled by Kimberley Whale Watching (Richard Costin and Annabelle Sandes) and will be available soon online.

Surveying on Montgomery Reef, photo: Jenita Enevoldsen

For much more detailed daily diary of the trip and species seen, click here.

Also, for a youtube video of all the best pics click here.

What we saw in detail

Cetaceans surveyed in total:

• 463 Humpback whales (22 mother/calf pairs),
  
• 39 Bottle-nosed dolphins,
  
• 2 pygmy killer whales, and an orca.

Other Interesting findings:

• Highest density of Humpbacks were spotted from Adele island to the Lacepede Islands – on average 18 whales were spotted per hour with a total of 198 whales spotted in one day.
• 7 mother and calf pairs were found on the shoals between the Adele and Lacepede islands, extending our knowledge of the whales’ nursery area.
• Apart from this track, the highest density of whales was spotted from Broome to the Lacepedes along the coast - with an average 12.8 whales being spotted per hour of observation, including a juvenile whale tail slapping just off James Price Point.
  
• Also spotted, 2 species of sea snakes, 3 species of sea turtle, 4 species of rays, 4 species of sharks, freshwater crocodiles, micro bats and over 10 species of sea birds. 

Related News Articles >

• 

  hands up for the Kimberley on Adele, photo: Annabelle Sandes

  Perth Now: Whale nursery bigger than expected
• The West Australian: Whale nursery to clash with gas-hub report
  

Take action  >>>

Ensure Adele Island and Montgomery reef are included in the new Kimberley Marine Park- email our premier Colin Barnett: wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au

Also check out or tourism report - which was released late August, 2010.

If you are interested in any trips which may be heading out next year, please register your interest with our staff: jenita.enevoldsen@wilderness.org.au