Whale warning around Portland
Give the whales a wide berth around Portland and Warnambool, say Wildlife officersBoaters have been warned that a close watch will be kept on powered craft along Victoria’s southwest coast, as the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) begins marine mammal patrols now that Southern Right Whale season is in full swing.
Wildlife Officers will be focusing on coastline around Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Portland and Cape Bridgewater to protect the region’s critically endangered Southern Right Whales (Victorian Threatened Species List).
At the same time, a lot of trailerboat anglers will be putting to sea in the pursuit of giants of a different kind, the southern bluefin tuna, which are also swarming about.
DELWP Resource Protection Program Manager Mark Brequet said the number of recreational boats along this stretch of coastline has risen in recent years, and that’s led to an increase in complaints about boat operators breaching the minimum distance requirements from whales.
"Operation Chester will run until the end of October during the Southern Right Whale breeding season.
"Our patrols will be on boat and on foot and our officers aim to speak to hundreds of people about keeping safe distances away from whales."
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
In addition to raising awareness about the rules and regulations, officers will be monitoring the activities of vessels, and investigate when boat operators are found to be too close to whales.
"In instances where boaters have ignored regulations, they’ll face fines of up $3100 under the Wildlife Marine Mammal Regulations 2009," Mr Brequet said.
"We need operators to understand that when vessels are too close to whales, these vulnerable mammals are at risk of being disturbed or hit and injured.
"The regulations are not only important for the protection of whales, but for the safety of boaters."
SURF SKIER ALMOST MOBY DICKED
In 2015, there was an incident where a surf skier narrowly avoided serious injury when he struck a Southern Right Whale who was with her calf at Logans Beach.
The man’s surf ski was damaged, while the mother and calf were briefly separated.
Operation Chester follows the recent installation of new signs at the exit of the Portland Harbour, warning that heavy penalties apply for ignoring minimum approach distances.
"As boaters will see these prominent signs while heading out of the harbour, we’re hoping they’ll be constantly on the lookout for whales when on the water," Mr Brequet said.
DELWP funded the signage which was installed in collaboration with the Port of Portland.
More at DELWP.
Photo Credit: Underwater shot by Dustin Hofman c/Nat Geo.
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