DOLPHINS —
KOOMBANA BAY
134. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the minister's
response to question without notice 1450 on 27 November 2019.
(1) What caused the deaths of the
seven dolphins?
(2) Have any
dolphin deaths occurred since November 2019; and, if yes, how many, and what
was the cause?
(3) Will the
minister please table the findings of the research that Murdoch University has
undertaken on behalf of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions; and, if not, why not?
(4) Has DBCA
reviewed the dolphin feeding program operated by the Dolphin Discovery Centre;
if yes, will the minister please table the results; and, if not, why not?
(5) Have
environmental studies been conducted on the proposed Koombana Bay marina area;
if yes, will the minister table the results; and, if not, why not?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has advised that of
the seven dolphins that died, two were euthanased after they were stranded, one
died as a result of cetacean morbillivirus, and another died from severe
bacterial and parasitic lung infection. The cause of death was unknown for four
dolphins, including one of the animals that was euthanased.
(2) DBCA is not aware of any
dolphin deaths in Koombana Bay since November 2019.
(3) I table the attached document.
[See paper 3628.]
(4) No formal
review of the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre's dolphin provisioning
program has yet been undertaken. DBCA has advised that it is engaging with the
Dolphin Discovery Centre to undertake such a review.
(5) This is a matter for the Minister for Regional Development,
but I am advised that environmental studies are being undertaken by the
South West Development Commission to support an environmental assessment under
part IV of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. This information is still
being prepared and is currently not available for tabling.