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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 134 asked in the Legislative Council on 20 February 2020 by Hon Diane Evers

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

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.