'Ware the whales as season begins

11th June 2009

The Coffs Coast Advocate/Supplied

WHALE season is again upon us with a number of whales being spotted in the Coral Sea in the past week.

On Thursday afternoon, crew on board Cruise Whitsundays Seaflight vessel saw two whales breaching about three miles south west of Bate Reef at about 4pm.

On Sunday, skipper John Dyson spotted two juvenile whales between Hardy Reef and Whitehaven Beach while on board Fantasea Wonder.

As the whale season builds up, boaties are being reminded to be alert and cautious for the next six months as humpback whales start to migrate along the Queensland coast to the Whitsundays and further north. State Government Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones said while the annual whale migration was an awesome sight, it was important to act with care throughout the migration season.

“A number of boaties were given warnings last whale season and our marine rangers intend on ramping up their monitoring efforts this year,” she said.

“So boaties are warned; keep your distance or you could be fined.”

During migration, boats cannot go any closer than 100 metres from a whale; however around the Whitsunday, Lindeman and Gloucester Island groups boats cannot go closer than 300 metres. Boats also cannot go any closer than 300 metres to a whale if moving in a similar direction to or behind a whale, moving at more than four knots.

“Penalties apply for breaching these regulations without reasonable excuse,” Ms Jones said.

The maximum penalty for intentionally moving closer to a whale than permitted under the conservation plan is $12,000.

On-the-spot fines ranging from $300 to $500 may also apply for various breaches of the conservation plan.

Every year whales head to the Whitsundays and further north to give birth and mate. They head south again from about August through to November.