‘Completely unacceptable’: Whale watchers warned after videos shared online
Victoria’s Conservation Regulator is putting rule-breaking whale watchers on notice, launching a crackdown aimed at keeping the huge mammals safe from curious spectators.
There has been a spike in reports of people threatening the health and welfare of whales, according to the watchdog, with videos posted to social media platforms of swimmers, surfers and boats getting too close to the marine animals.
A humpback breaches in front of whale watchers just off Sydney Harbour in May.Credit:whalewatchingsydney.com.au
Authorised officers are looking into several reports and online videos of boats getting too close to whales.
More than 100 southern right whales have been spotted along Victoria’s coast this season, including seven cow-calf pairs in the state’s southwest, according to the Arthur Rylah Institute’s WhaleFace project.
Rule-breakers have prompted the regulator to do on-water patrols in September to ensure people are keeping a safe distance from whales and other marine animals.
Officers will target known hotspots from Cowes to Portland, the regulator said.
Chief Conservation regulator Kate Gavens said: “We want to thank the community who have already flagged social media videos with us and reported people getting too close to marine mammals
“We’re lucky in Victoria to have whales so close to shore this time of year, but we need to ensure all sightings are from the minimum distance away to protect the health of our whales and community safety.”
Under wildlife laws, swimmers and surfers must stay at least 50 metres away from whales, boats must keep 200 metres clear, and jet skis 300 metres.
An exclusion zone for powered watercraft and drones also applies at Warrnambool’s Logans Beach in the state’s southwest until October 31.
The beach is home to the only established southern right whale nursery in southeast Australia.
Anyone who ignores the minimum distances or exclusion zone could face a fine of nearly $3700.
AAP
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