Whale Watching

Whale Watching Tips

In August 1989, a commercial whale-watching industry was established in the waters off Perth. This industry is based on south-bound migrating humpbacks from September to late November, when they can be seen in the area with great regularity.

The interest in whale watching has expanded, with charter vessels now operating from Albany, Broome, Exmouth, Denham, Karratha and Geographe Bay. The Albany-based operation principally targets the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), which calves and mates off the south coast. The right whale is also being seen in very slowly increasing numbers in Perth metropolitan waters.

Midday, when the sun is directly overhead, is the best time to observe whales from the land or air. Watching whales from a boat is more dependent upon weather, and less influenced by the time of day.

Whales are intelligent, sensitive mammals. The following code has been prepared to encourage enjoyable and safe whale watching from boats, at the same time protecting these ‘gentle giants’.

The Rules for Whale Watching

• Only persons with vessels licensed by DEC are to operate commercial vessel tours involving whale watching.
• Persons on private vessels (including everything from surfboards and kayaks to yachts and launches) do not require whale watching licences, but must adhere to these rules and guidelines governing whale watching.
• Aircraft are not permitted to fly within 300 metres of a whale, except by special authorisation.
• Swimming with, feeding or touching whales is not permitted. Such actions may cause stress to the whale and are dangerous to people. If you are in the water and a whale approaches, you must endeavour to keep a minimum of 30 metres distance between yourself and the whale.
• Any marine vessel, whether powered by a motor, paddle or sail that is within a distance of 300 metres from a whale is within the whale's contact zone. The following special rules apply within the contact zone.

1. A vessel must not cause a whale to alter its direction or speed of travel.
2. A vessel must not disperse or separate a group of whales.
3. A vessel, whether under power or drifting, must not approach a whale from a direction within an arc of 60° of the whale's direction of travel or an arc of 60° of the whale's opposite direction of travel (see Figure 1).
4. A vessel must not approach a whale within a distance of 100 metres (except licensed 'RESEARCH' vessels in particular circumstances).
5. Where a whale approaches a vessel and the distance between the whale and the vessel becomes less than 100 metres, the vessel master must place its motor or motors in neutral or move the vessel at less than five knots away from the whale until the vessel is outside the contact zone.
6. A vessel must not block the direction of travel of a whale, or any passage of escape available to a whale, from an area where escape is otherwise prevented by a barrier, shallow water, vessel or some other obstacle to the whale's free passage.
7. A vessel master must abandon any interactions with a whale at any sign of the whale becoming disturbed or alarmed.

Remember:
If whales are diving for prolonged periods or swimming evasively, you are disturbing and upsetting them. Leave them alone. It is an offence to harass whales, and they may permanently abandon an area if continually disturbed.

Photographs by Doug Coughran

For more information on whale watching or whale research write to:

Department of Environment and Conservation
State Headquarters
Locked Bag 104
BENTLEY DELIVERY CENTRE
Western Australia 6983
Telephone: +61 9 334 0333

See also the Whales Head Home feature on the ABC's Scribblygum website. (Opens in a new browser window.)