SWIMMING WITH HUMPBACK
WHALES PROGRAM — NINGALOO
18. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
I refer to the swimming with humpback whales trial program.
(1) What monitoring has occurred during the trial since 2016?
(2) How often did monitoring occur and what were the results?
(3) Has an evaluation of the impacts of whale interactions
been undertaken?
(4) If yes to (3), who completed the evaluation?
(5) If yes to (3), will the minister please table the report;
and, if not, why not?
(6) What research is being undertaken on the impacts of
swimming with whales?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2)
Monitoring of in-water interactions with humpback whales occurred throughout
the duration of the trial since 2016. The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions engaged independent
scientists to undertake a number of research projects over the past four
years. DBCA also undertook assessments of visitor satisfaction and interviewed
operators to obtain their feedback. In addition, all of the commercial
operators involved in the trial provided data on their activities throughout
the trial through the electronic monitoring system installed on their vessels.
(3)–(5)
Annual reviews were conducted by DBCA, which included consideration of
monitoring data, findings from research
conducted under the trial, and operator and community feedback. Representatives
of science, conservation and tourism sectors assisted with these
reviews. Multiple reports and other documents comprised the review; there is no
single final report of the evaluation of the trial to table.
(6) In
addition to the research already conducted, key research topics that will be
progressed in the future include the status and health of the humpback whale
population that uses Western Australian state waters, including the proportion
of whales using Ningaloo Marine Park and adjacent areas; and short-term impacts
of in-water interactions on individual whales, including larger calves.