1.25pm Tue 5 May 2009Whitsundays Online
The annual migration of Humpback whales up the Australian east coast has progressed north of Byron Bay, NSW last week, which could signal an early start to the whale watching season here in the Whitsundays.
The Sunshine Coast Daily reported today "Migrating whales head north through the Whitsunday Islands around June to the sub-tropical coastal waters between Australia and Fiji . . . The start of the official whale watching season, which peaks in duration in this region, is another month away. However, the early NSW sightings signal a repeat of last year's season debut in May."
Certain vessels are prohibited for use in whale and dolphin watching. These include all personal motorised watercraft (e.g. jet skis and underwater scooters), parasails, remotely operated craft, wing-in-ground effect craft (Ekranoplans), and hovercraft.
The most current rules for Whale Watching by those in boats is called the Australian National Guidlines for Whale and Dolphin Watching 2005, produced by the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and a PDF copy can be found here.
Image courtesy Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Full story at The Sunhine Coast Daily
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