Whale watching rules for Migaloo
Whales invade SE Queensland and there are hopes Migaloo, the white humpback, isn't far behindGold Coast and SE Queensland boaters have been treated to a spectacular whale watching season thus far and most offshore boaters heading out for a fish are coming across the leviathans as they make their way towards the warm waters of north Queensland.
In a recent press statement, Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said he was hopeful the famous white whale Migaloo (aboriginal for white fella) would be spotted soon.
"It’s the Holy Grail of whale watching – to catch a glimpse of this extremely rare pure-white whale," Dr Miles said.
"We haven’t had a confirmed sighting of Migaloo in Queensland waters for the past two years but there was an unconfirmed sighting from New South Wales so we’re hoping he’s on his way.
"We’re looking forward to hearing reports of his arrival any day now."
Migaloo was first observed in 1991 off Byron Bay when he was believed to be three-to-five-years old.
Since then he has been seen migrating along the east coast most years. In 2015 there were unconfirmed sightings off Queensland, and a confirmed sighting in New Zealand waters in July.
Migaloo was confirmed as being a male in 2004. He has a distinctive crooked dorsal fin and his back has some scarring from a collision with a yacht in 2003.
'Special interest' rules apply to Migaloo and any other white humpback whales in order to protect them while they are in Queensland waters.
Most importantly, no-one can bring a boat or jet ski closer than 500 metres or fly an aircraft closer than 610 metres to a special interest whale like Migaloo without authorisation.
According to Spirit of Gold Coast whale watchers, Migaloo
unexpectedly swam through the Gold Coast along the Humpback Highway on August 10, 2015.
The reason why Migaloo arrived so late in the season
could be due to the changes in ocean currents and temperature, the charter company said. There was
a lot of controversy whether it was Migaloo, but subsequent research
confirmed it was the famous white whale based on its dorsal and fluke identification.
The photos accompanying this story are from Spirit of Gold Coast's website. More on Queensland whale watching rules here.
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