Swim with the humpbacks set for Ningaloo
Whale-swim trials next year in Ningaloo Marine Park to boost eco tourismThe chance to swim with majestic humpback whales in Western Australia will be trialled at Ningaloo Marine Park next year to grow ecotourism in the region.
Environment Minister Albert Jacob said he was excited to offer a new wilderness experience and expand the World Heritage area's tourist season by providing the trial for existing licensed whale shark tour companies.
"Whale watching is an extremely popular recreational activity and this trial will allow people to gain further appreciation and understanding of humpbacks and also provide another world-class tourist attraction at Ningaloo," Mr Jacob said.
The Minister said the safety of whales and participants was a key consideration of the program and there would be strict operational guidelines for in-water interaction with humpbacks.
The Department of Parks and Wildlife would closely monitor and evaluate the trial program with real-time information from electronic monitoring systems already installed on vessels for whale shark operations.
"The results of the trial will determine how tours can become a permanent feature of Ningaloo and other areas of the State. I am keen to see if this has the potential to grow in the way that swimming with whale sharks has developed as a major attraction on the Coral Coast," Mr Jacob said.
Swimming with humpback whales is offered in only a handful of countries including Mexico and Tonga. It has also recently been introduced in Queensland.
The Minister said the west coast humpback whale population had steadily recovered since the end of commercial hunting of this species in Australia in 1963.
"It is now the largest population in the world, with an estimated 30,000 whales migrating along the coast each year — a true conservation success story," he said.
Fact File
>> Trial to start around June 2016 when migrating whales arrive in Ningaloo Marine Park
>> About 20,000 people swim with whale sharks each year at Ningaloo through tours provided by businesses at Coral Bay and Exmouth
>> Humpbacks whales are 'Specially Protected' under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950
>> Commercial hunting of other whale species ended in Western Australia in 1978
Photo credit: Doug Coughran, WA Parks and Wildlife.
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