Supplementary Form A – whale & dolphin research
DSEWPaC
Supplementary information
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Question 3
Extent of aerial survey area, encompassing the Head of Bight and Fowlers Bay.
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Question 4.
a). The equipment and methods used to comply with the EPBC Act regulations.
The surveys will be conducted in a Robinson 44 Raven II Helicopter. Photo-ID of individual whales will be collected
using a Canon 40D digital SLR camera with a 300-500mm lens. Three flights are scheduled, one in mid-July, midAugust and mid-October to capture the temporal and spatial habitat usage of the Great Australian Bight southern
right whale aggregation. Flights are planned to enter the aggregation area from east to west. The purpose of this
permit application is to seek permission within the EPBC Marine Mammal Regulations to fly within 200 metres
vertically of individual animals to enable the collection of high quality individual photographic ID’s.
b). What steps will be taken to minimise the effects on cetaceans?
The methodology undertaken during two pilot aerial surveys in September and October 2013 (Cetacean permit
2013-0009) will be repeated. During these surveys precautions were taken to ensure minimum interaction time
with each whale via flight approach procedures. This entailed hovering at a distance, then flying through at a
steady speed when the whales surfaced to capture photo-ID ensuring no hovering occurred in close proximity to
any animal. During these surveys, no change of behaviour was recorded for any individual during photo-ID
approach, with 76% of approaches lasting less than one minute and 24% lasting 1-2 minutes. Experienced marine
mammal scientists will be on-board and if any signs of disturbance or altered behaviour are detected, the photoID approach will be halted and the helicopter will immediately move away from the individual/group. The
helicopter to be utilised has been specifically identified as one that has low engine and rotor noise, as well as
negligible down draft to minimise disturbance.
c). The objectives and purposes of this action
The aims of this project are to photograph, categorise and geo-reference all individual animals within the survey
area. These data, and additional data collected in subsequent years, will provide estimates of abundance,
population growth rate, and survival and fecundity of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) in the former
Great Australian Bight Marine Park (which will be encompassed by the Great Australian Bight Commonwealth
Marine Reserve in July 2014). Information on the status and trends in abundance of SRW populations within the
region are essential for evaluating key performance measures of the GAB Marine Park, to assist DEWNR in species
management decisions and to meet the first interim recovery objective of the “Southern right Whale
Conservation and Management Plan 2011-2021”:
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“Demonstrate that the number of southern right whales occurring off south-west Australia (nominally
south-west Australian population) is increasing at or near the maximum biological rate.” (DSEWPaC,
2012)
Question 5
a). A copy of the research proposal
Monitoring southern right whale abundance, distribution and population dynamics at the Great Australian
Bight aggregation/nursery ground.
The overall aim of this project is to provide an absolute count of the number of southern right whale (Eubalaena
australis) present in the former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (which will be encompassed by the Great
Australian Bight Commonwealth Marine Reserve in July 2014), at three points during the aggregation/calving
season, to obtain photo-ID of all individuals to allow mark-recapture estimates of abundance. All photo-IDs will be
processed and uploaded to the Australian Right Whale Photo-Identification Catalogue (ARWPIC). All individuals
and groups will be geo-referenced, providing data on the temporal distribution of individuals and different classes
throughout the aggregation/calving season.
BACKGROUND
Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) (SRW) are listed as endangered under the Commonwealth EPBC Act
and require sufficient monitoring to meet the objectives of the Conservation Management plan for the Southern
Right Whale (DSEWPac 2012).
The species has a southern hemisphere circumpolar distribution between latitude 16°S and 65°S. Between May
and October, SRW from Australia migrate between higher latitude feeding grounds (probably between 40°S and
65°S) to calving/nursery grounds in coastal Australian waters. Until recently SRW in Australian waters have been
managed as a single population estimated at approximately 3,500 individuals (DSEWPaC 2012). However, a recent
genetic study has led to the proposal of two populations in Australian waters (south-western and south-eastern)
(Carroll et al. 2011), that are experiencing different rates of recovery from historical whaling effort. While
recovery and re-occupancy rates for the south-eastern population are low, the south-western population is
estimated to be increasing at 6.79% per annum (Bannister 2011), near or at maximum population growth. Current
population estimates put the south-western population at 2,900 individuals (Bannister 2011), therefore
accounting for 83% of the total estimated Australian SRW population.
The south-western SRW population is distributed between Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia (WA) and Ceduna,
South Australia (SA) (Bannister 2011) with established large coastal aggregation and nursery grounds at Doubtful
Island Bay area and Israelite Bay areas in WA, and Head of Bight (HOB) in SA. During the breeding season
unaccompanied whales have been shown to travel between areas up to 1,500km apart. In general, female SRW
show calving site fidelity and tend to spend 2-3 months at a particular nursery ground. However, calving whales
have been recorded at locations up to 700km apart in a single season (DSEWPaC 2012).
Reproductive females produce a single calf every three years, but this three year calving interval can vary as a
result of large-scale climate variability (Leaper et al 2006) or if a female loses its calf. Gestation lasts for 12
months, with a 7-8 month lactation period. Reproductive females tend not to be present in these coastal
aggregation areas between calving events, and counts of female-calf pairs vary annually as a result of cohort
structured breeding (DSEWPaC 2012). The winter distribution of Australian SRWs which do not migrate to coastal
calving/aggregations is presently unknown.
The HOB is a significant winter calving/aggregation site for a portion of the south-western population (>40%,
Charlton & Burnell 2011) and Fowlers Bay to the east of the HOB is classified as an emerging aggregation area
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(DSEWPaC 2012). SRWs are present in the area between May and October, with peak abundance occurring
between mid-August and mid-September (Bannister 2011).
The SRW aggregation at the HOB has been studied for over twenty years, with varying levels of support from
State and Commonwealth agencies, including the Australian Marine Mammal Centre (AMMC), DEWNR &
DSEWPaC. These studies have been conducted to facilitate the management of this species and data have
primarily been collected from cliff top surveys. Surveys are conducted over a 15km stretch of coastline comprising
of 5km of beach (which cannot be directly surveyed) and 10km of limestone cliffs. The potential coastal area that
can be successfully surveyed from cliff top sites is dependent on the height of the observation point used (37 to
60m) and environmental conditions (Charlton & Burnell 2011).
Additional information on SRW abundance and photo-ID are collected during annual aerial surveys, which, since
1993, have surveyed the region between HOB and Ceduna. However, these areas are only surveyed twice (one
eastern and one return leg) when peak numbers in cow/calf pairs are likely to occur (mid-August to midSeptember). As a result aerial count data are only available for a small proportion of time that whales are present
at the HOB breeding/calving aggregation.
NEED
SRW are one of the key special features of the GAB Marine Park and the HOB represents a significant aggregation
and calving ground for the Australian south-western SRW population. Information on the status and trends in
abundance of SRW populations within the region are essential for evaluating key performance measures of the
GAB Marine Park, to assist DEWNR in species management decisions and to meet the first interim recovery
objective of the “Southern right Whale Conservation and Management Plan 2011-2021”:
“Demonstrate that the number of southern right whales occurring off south-west Australia (nominally
south-west Australian population) is increasing at or near the maximum biological rate.” (DSEWPaC 2012)
To date, land-based surveys have provided relative counts and obtained photographic IDs of SRW at the HOB
during the peak calving season. However, the ability to accurately count and photograph all whales in the area,
within a season, is affected by distance of animals from shore (or in the eastern end of the study site off the
beach) and sighting conditions. For example 16% of all whales counted during the 9 day cliff-top survey
conducted in 2010 were classified as being of “unknown status”. Unknown status animals are those individuals
who are “unable to be categorised due to limited sightability.” (Charlton & Burnell 2011), i.e. the presence of “an
accompanying calf cannot be confirmed or refuted” (Burnell 2007). Only 10% of individuals of this unknown
status class were successfully photographically identified. While photo-id rates of female-calf pairs is higher (90%
of the numbers counted) any female with calf which is not successfully IDd, or any unknown status whale which
was accompanied by a calf and not IDd, will effect estimates of female reproductive rates in the population.
“Unaccompanied” whales move quickly through the area and are less likely to be identified at HOB from a single
survey during the breeding season. Known mature females which have previously been identified with a calf in
the aggregation area spend significantly less time in the area in those years when they do not have a calf (Burnell
& Bryden, 2007).
In 2013, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR), as well as the Commonwealth
Department for Environment (formerly DSEWPaC) made the decision to support the development of a new SRW
aerial survey program to directly address the conservation and management needs of the GABMP and SRW
management plans. SARDI and DEWNR conducted two pilot aerial surveys, by helicopter, in September and
October 2013, encompassing ~270 km of coastline (Mackay & Goldsworthy, 2014). Due to logistical and funding
constraints, the surveys could not be conducted during the peak aggregation period (August). During the first
survey, 49 SRW were sighted (25 adults and 24 calves), while a single female-calf pair was sighted during the
second survey. Photo-IDs and geographic positions of all sighted whales were successfully obtained on both
surveys, and no behavioural response to the presence of the helicopter was observed. The results of these pilot
studies indicate that aerial surveys provide an efficient and standardised methodology with which to collect data
on the abundance, distribution and reproductive state of individual whales in the study area.
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Aerial surveys should be conducted on an annual basis to account for inter-annual variability in counts of
reproductive females, which occurs primarily as a result of the three-year breeding cycle. The collection of photoIDs of all sighted whales within a standardised survey area at multiple times within a breeding season, would
allow for mark-recapture methods to be applied to the data, and provide an estimate of total abundance during
the annual breeding season.
It is recommended that at least three surveys per season are undertaken each year; in July, August (the historical
peak in abundance) and September to provide a better understanding of the fecundity, distribution and
movement patterns of individual whales with the calving/aggregation period, and to provide an estimate of total
abundance using mark-recapture methodology.
METHODS
Three helicopter based aerial surveys will be conducted during the 2014 breeding/ aggregation season, one in
July, August and September. Aerial survey protocol will follow the methodology used in Mackay and Goldsworthy
(2014). The aim of these surveys will be to provide accurate counts, geographic location, and where possible,
photo IDs of all SRW in the study area. During search and count phase of the survey the helicopter will fly at an
altitude of no lower than 300 meters (of height specified by permit). To obtain an accurate photo-ID, the
helicopter will descend to a flying altitude of a minimum of 200m (of height specified by permit). Once a photo-ID
has been obtained the helicopter will immediately return to the “search and count” flying altitude. In addition, in
order to minimise any disturbance of the animals, behavioural responses of individual or groups of whales to the
helicopter will be assessed in real-time by qualifed and experienced marine mammal scientists aboard the
helicopter. Any photo-ID approach (ie reduction of flying altitude to a minimum specified height) will be
immeadiatley halted if animals show any sign of disturbance or change of behaviour, even if this results in not
being able to obtain a photo-ID of all counted whales.
OUTCOMES
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Absolute counts, individual geographic location(s), and photo-IDs of southern right whales at the Great
Australian Bight Marine Park and at the Fowlers Bay aggregation during the 2014 breeding/aggregation
season.
An analysis of individual distribution within the 2014 breeding/aggregation season.
Mark-recapture estimates of abundance for the 2014 breeding/aggregation season
All photo-ID images will be submitted to the Australasian Right Whale Photographic Identification
Catalogue (ARWPIC).
FUTURE SURVEYS
Three additional aerial surveys will be conducted during each of the 2015 and 2016 breeding/aggregation seasons
subject to funding. The methodology used and outcomes of each will be the same as described above for the
2014 season surveys.
References:
Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.(2012).
Conservation management plan for the southern right whale.
Bannister JL (2011) Population trend in right whales off southern Australia 1993-2010. SC/S11/RW10 IWC
SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP: Buenos Aires, 13-16 September 2011
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Burnell S (2007) Southern Right Whales -2007 Census and Photo Identification at Head of Bight, S.A. Final Report
to Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 15pp
Burnell, S.R. &Bryden, M.M. (1997) Coastal residence periods and reproductive timing in southern right whales,
Eubalaenaaustralis Journal of Zoology 241: 613–621
Carroll, E., Patenaude, N., Alexander, A., Steel, D., Harcourt, R., Childerhouse, S., Smith, S., Bannister, J.,
Constantine, R. & Baker, C.S. (2011) Population structure and individual movement of southern right
whales around New Zealand and Australia Marine Ecology Progress Series 432: 257–268
Charlton C, Burnell S (2011) Southern Right Whales – 2010 Census and Photo Identification at Head of Bight,
South Australia. Final report to Great Australian Bight Marine Park, Department of Environment and
National Resources.20pp
Leaper, R., Cooke, J., Trathan, P., Reid, K., Rowntree, V. & Payne, R. (2006) Global climate drives southern right
whale (Eubalaenaaustralis) population dynamics Biology Letters 2: 289–292
Mackay, A.I. and Goldsworthy, S.D. (2014). Development and implementation of a new survey protocol for
monitoring southern right whales in the Great Australian Bight. South Australian Research and
Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2014/000052-1. SARDI
Research Report Series No. 756. 26pp.
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