The good news is that during recent years, whale protection measures have resulted in an increase in the number of migrating whales along the Australian coastline.
However, this recovery in whale numbers has coincided with an increase in coastal development, fishing, and other marine activities. These activities occur along much of the NSW coast, right in the middle of the whale migration area, causing a growing number of reported whale entanglements. Whale disentanglement is a skilful and potentially dangerous exercise, which requires specialist tools and training.
You can help our whales by supporting The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife. This organisation rescues injured and entangled whales and has been involved in various projects including:
Telemetry buoys
Whale rescues often experience delays until the weather, location and speed of the animal fulfil safety requirements. The buoys attach to the nets where the whale is tangled and allow disentanglement teams to easily locate the tangled whale even after delays.
Rescue kits
Marine Fauna Rescue Kits allow rescuers to deal efficiently and professionally with a range of incidents contributing to the conservation of whales.
Satellite tracking
The Foundation funds satellite tracking of migrating humpback whales to collect data on individual whales. Scientists record the whales’ surfacing rate, their swim speed and their use of critical habitat.
Whale monitoring
Whale monitoring is undertaken at Cape Solander, in Botany Bay National Park, Sydney. The data collected will be used to support Australia’s call for the establishment of a Southern Pacific Ocean Whale Sanctuary that was vetoed recently by Japan and six Caribbean states.
To support the purchase of telemetry buoys and rescue kits visit the Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife and help save our whales.