2011 Whale Survey

Kimberley Cetacean R epor t 2011

Kimberley Whale

Watching

w w w. k i m b e r l e y w h a l e s . c o m . a u

http://www.kimberleywhales.com.au


Two Humpback whales off James Price Point - Image Annabelle Sandes | Kimberley Media 2012

Whale Images

www.kimberleystockphotos.com.au

Observations on the behaviour and distribution of Humpback whales on the Kimberley coast

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CONTENTS

...................................................................................................................Introduction 4.................................................................Kimberley Whales & Reefs Expedition 2011 8

............................................................................................................Survey Results 12...................................................................................................................Discussion 14

........................................................................................................Maps and Tables 17.............................................................................................Broome Whale Watching 25

........................................................................................Eco Beach Whale Watching 29..............................................................................................Marine Protected Areas 30

.......................................................................................................Acknowledgments 40

KIMBERLEY whale WATCHING

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The north west coast of Australia has long been recognized as an important destination for migrating sperm and humpback whales. An analysis of logbook records of American whale ships between 1760 and 1927 by Charles Haskins Townsend revealed that the Indian Ocean from Shark Bay to the Kimberley Coast was an important hunting ground for the American whalers.

Townsend showed that humpback whales were taken off the north west coast west of Broome .

Commercial whaling is considered to be one of Australia's first export industries. In 1837 the Fremantle Whaling Company and Perth Whaling

Company generating £3000 in export revenue in the first year of operation. In 1944 whaling products comprised nearly 40% of the total value of the state’s exports. In 1845 it was estimated that there were approximately 300 Australian, British and American whale ships operating in Australian waters along with numerous shore stations.

In 1860 legislation was passed prohibiting unlicensed whalers from operating in Western Australian waters.


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During the twentieth century a number of whaling operations were established along the Western Australian coast, including operations in Albany and Point Cloates off the Northwest Cape. Norwegian and Australian factory ships also operated along the coast.

In 1950 the Australian government established the Australian Whaling Commission which established a whaling station at Babbage Island near Carnarvon.

The last of the whalers in Western Australia was the Cheyne’s Beach Whaling Company which operated out of Frenchman’s Bay between 1952 and 1978. A ban was placed on hunting Humpback whales in 1963 to prevent them being hunted to extinction.

Perhaps the main reason for the decline in the whaling industry worldwide was the discovery of petroleum oil in

Pennsylvania in the 1860s. Whale oil prices crashed as petroleum products progressively replaced whale oil.

The early whalers recognized that the main breeding area for the west coast population of Humpback whales (now Breeding stock D) extended from the Dampier Archipelago to the tropical waters of the Kimberley coast. Captain Gustav Brun Bull, the manager of the Spermacet Whaling Company of Albany maintained that it

was important not to hunt Humpback whales in their breeding grounds.

“In my opinion it would affect the whole industry, because whales go up to the Tropics where their breeding grounds are for breeding purposes. If they are disturbed there, there is a probability of their disappearing altogether. If they are disturbed in their vital haunts, their breeding grounds, they may go up along the east coast of Australia instead.”

Whales go up to the Tropics

where their breeding grounds are for breeding purposes.

If they are disturbed there, there is a probability of their disappearing altogether.

Gustav Brun Bull


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The opinions expressed by Captain Bull still have relevance today as the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts face an unprecedented period of industrial development.

The rapid expansion of the oil and gas industry and mineral export industries will results in major disturbance which may have the effect of excluding Humpback whales from their main breeding and calving areas.

The post whaling recovery of the west coast population has fascinated and been closely followed many scientists over the past 50-60 years. William Dawbin, R.G. Chittleborough, John Bannister, P.J.Clapham, Chris Burton, Nick Gales, Doug Cochrane, and Curt and Micheline Jenner, to name a few, have all helped to unravel some of the mysteries of the West coast migration and recovery.All whales around the Australian coast are now totally protected from whaling under international, national and state legislation and policy. However they are not protected from the threats posed by the industrial development of the Pilbara and Kimberley coast.

In the Kimberley there is still only a limited understanding of the distribution and behaviour of Humpback whales and how they may be affected by the proposed industrial development of the Kimberley coast.

There are a number of proposed marine reserves and parks in both state and federal waters under consideration. If these marine reserves are to provide meaningful protection for the main breeding grounds for the Breeding stock D population of Humpback whales, they should encompass a large area of the Kimberley coast.There should be special emphasis placed on minimizing the disturbance to cows and calves.


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The current planning process should adopt a precautionary approach. Substantial Commonwealth and State funds need to be directed at further research that is not linked to the current industry approvals process or mining offsets. Important questions that need researching include:

1.Has the industrial development in the Pilbara affected the breeding grounds and migration patterns of Breeding stock D?2.What are the ecological processes that drive the marine environment along the Kimberley coast?3.How are current and proposed land and sea management issues affecting those processes?4.What are the threats to Humpback whales in Kimberley waters?

Over the past six years, Kimberley Whale Watching has been exploring the Kimberley coast and running a community science programme that has been studying the distribution of cetaceans in Kimberley waters since 2006, along with filming and photographing many of the reefs and islands along the coast.

As naturalists we are fascinated by the Kimberley coast and the annual migration of Humpback whales in Kimberley waters.

In 2011 we conducted two extended Kimberley whales and reefs expeditions on SPV Kimberley Escape to record the distribution and behaviour of Humpback whales between Broome, Camden Sound and Adele Island.

We also dived and filmed in several select locations to record some of the corals and the marine life through the survey area.

The 2011 report summarizes those findings and includes considerations of the whale interactions for the 2011 whale watching season for Broome Whale Watching and Eco Beach.


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Kimberley Whales and Reefs Expedition 2011

In 2011 Kimberley Whale Watching charted SPV Kimberley Escape to record the distribution of Humpback whales between Broome and the Lacepede Islands, the Lacepede Islands and Adele Island and Adele Island and Camden Sound. The first trip ran from 18 - 27 July 2011, and the second from 1- 10 August 2011.

The expeditions were run as a naturalists’ tour and followed the same track as the 2010 Whales and Reefs Expedition.

Aims of Trip

To obtain reliable data on the number and distribution of whales throughout the survey area to compare with data collected around the peak migration period in 2010 from the 16 - 23 August.


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To obtain reliable data to compare the relative concentration of whales between Broome and Camden Sound.To compare the relative number and concentration of cows and calves between Broome and Camden Sound.To photograph some of the corals and other marine life through the survey area.

Survey Methods

The survey was set up as a single line transect similar to those conducted on Kimberley Quest in 2008, Odyssey Expeditions in 2009 and Kimberley Escape in 2010.

The survey station was on the top deck, well shaded by a canvas awning. The boat speed was a constant 10 knots and whale sightings were recorded continuously along the survey track. A minimum of three observers were on deck at most times, with one person recording the data.

The survey was continually supervised by Richard Costin, Annabelle Sandes and John Totterdell on rotation. We had all been involved with the boat surveys since 2008.

When a whale was sighted the compass bearing and approximate distance to the whales was plotted on a C-Plot computer programme, which also recorded the boat’s track and speed. The time, latitutude and longitude, compass bearing and estimated distance were then recorded onto a log sheet which included details of the pod and behaviour. These sightings were recorded either as adults (cows without calves, juveniles or bulls), or cows with calves.


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The C-Plot was a useful tool in checking the bearing and estimated distance in relation to the boat. The distance to the horizon was estimated to be around 5 nautical miles and was constantly referenced against the many islands throughout the archipelago.

Distance estimates were reasonably accurate within 2 nautical miles of the boat and less accurate outside that distance.

The sea state conditions for the 2010 and 2011 surveys were smooth to slight with winds generally less than 5 knots.

In considering the data, no attempt has been made to make any adjustments in relation to

• Time of day• Time of tide• Phase of the moon (i.e. Spring or Neap tides)• Recapture rates• The influence of the survey boat through the

survey area.


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Areas of baitfish and bird activity were noted and the number of dolphins were recorded. The surveys were only conducted during daylight hours and the recording period each day varied according to the main charter schedule.

The survey ran for 20 days with four transects along the Dampier Peninsula along a similar track over that period. Individual whales recorded on one transect may have been rerecorded on another transect. This should not have affected the mains aims of the survey.

Brown boobies and terns fishing


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Results - Kimberley Whales survey 2011

2011 has been a great year for whales on the Kimberley coast.

Kimberley Whale Watching recorded a total of 834 Humpback whales and 84 dolphins in twenty days between 18 July and 10 August 2011. This included 454 pods with 630 adults, 102 cows and 102 calves.

The survey results are summarized in the tables on the following pages. The pod sightings were plotted on Google Earth.

Three whales near Brue Reef, Kimberley coast. Image Annabelle Sandes, Kimberley Media

http://www.kimberleymedia.com.au



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TRIP 1

A total of 402 Humpback whales were recorded including 41 cows with calves. Sixteen cows with calves were recorded between the Lacepede Islands and Broome on the 27th July 2011. This compares with only 3 cows with calves in Camden Sound on the 23rd of July 2011.

The highest concentration and number of whales was recorded between the Lacepede Islands and Broome on the 27th of July, with a total of 153 whales recorded over a period of five and a half hours.

TRIP 2

A total of 432 Humpback whales were recorded. This included 61 cows with calves.

The highest number and concentration of whales was recorded between the Lacepede Islands and Broome on the 10th of August 2011. This included 14 cows with

calves. A total of 11 whales were recorded in Camden Sound on the 7th August 2011, including 3 cows with calves.

date pods adults cows calves total % calves hrs of observation

16/08/10 to 23/08 /10

18/07/11 to 27/07/11

01/08/11 to 10/08/11

290 412 21 21 454 4.62 36.2

202 320 41 41 402 10.19 41.5

252 310 61 61 432 14.12 40.8

Adults include juveniles, cows without calves and bulls.Cows are cows with calves.

Humpback whale sightings 2010 - 2011


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Discussion

The results of the 2011 whale surveys clearly indicate that between the 18th of July and the 10th of August 2011 the highest number and concentration of Humpback whales on the Kimberley coast between Broome and Camden Sound occurred along the Dampier Peninsula between the Lacepede Islands and Broome. The high number of cows and calves in the population again highlights the importance of the Broome area as a calving, breeding and resting area. These results are also supported by data from the Kimberley whale surveys in 2009 and 2010.

This is also supported by whale interaction data from Broome Whale Watching for 2009 and 2011, and Eco Beach’s data for 2011.

The low number of whales and cows and calves in Camden Sound was surprising as this is considered to be the main calving and resting area on the Kimberley coast.A comparison of data from surveys in 2009, 2010 and 2011 indicates that the area between the Lacepede Islands and Broome should be considered as critical

habitat for the Breeding Stock D population of Humpback whales.

Very few pods of whales were observed surface traveling in either a northern or southern direction. The only exception was a large pod of 7 bulls approximately 63km northwest of Pender Bay which were traveling at about 6 knots in a northerly direction.

There is a general perception that most of the Humpback whales migrate north along the Dampier Peninsula into Camden Sound.

Personal Observations from 2008 - 2011 do not support this view. The Kimberley coast, between Eco Beach and Camden Sound should be considered as the ‘destination’ or the main breeding, calving and resting areas. In 2011 Humpback whales were also reported calving in various locations along the WA coast, between Israelite Bay east of Esperance, to Albany, and north to Exmouth and Broome.

Perhaps the most exciting day of the two trips was on the 10th of August 2011. We departed the Lacepede Islands at around 4am, heading across the Baleine Banks south


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to Talboy’s Rock, past James Price Point and on to Broome.

As the day dawned we were all amazed to see that we were surrounded by whales. The recording was fast and furious with a new pod sighted every couple of minutes. One hundred and forty five whales were recorded over a five hour period. Comparisons of accoustic and visual monitoring techniques undertaken along the Kimberley coast in 1989 by W.H. Dawbin indicate that visual monitoring detected about 30% of the whales through their survey area. It would be reasonable to assume that there may have been between 400-500 whales along our survey track.

Another interesting interaction was in the Lulim Channel in Camden Sound. SPV Kimberley Escape disturbed a single adult in the channel. The motors were cut and the whale made a beeline for the boat, surfacing just behind the transom. After circling the boat, the whale charged one of the dinghies in tow, butting the dinghy with its nose. Examination of the photos revealed that the whale was still recovering from a propeller or boat strike. The aggressive behaviour may be related to that event.

On both surveys we observed significant concentrations of birds, baitfish and pelagics such as Mackeral, Tuna and Finny scad through many of the outer shoals between Camden Sound and Adele Island, Adele Island and the Lacepede Islands and the Lacepede Islands and Broome. Significant numbers of Humpback whales were recorded in the same areas indicating that this may also be an important feeding area. observations over the past 15 years and numerous anecdotal accounts support this view.


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The importance of maintaining the integrity of the Kimberley marine environment cannot be overstated. A precautionary approaches to development needs to be adopted whilst further research is carried out. The Kimberley coast should be regarded a critical habitat so that it still remains an important sanctuary area for the Humpback whales.

Dawn, Adele Island. Adele is part of the proposed Kimberley Marine ReserveImage - Annabelle Sandes | Kimberley Media


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date hrs survey track adults cows calves total % calves whales/hr observation

18/07/2011

19/07/2011

21/07/2011

22/07/2011

23/07/2011

23/07/2011

24/07/2011

26/07/2011

27/07/2011

total

4 broome to lacepede island

46 3 3 52 5.7 13

8 lacepede island to cafarelli island

39 39 4.8

2 collier bay

2 montgomery reef to hall point

3 camden sound (incidental)

12 1 1 14 7.1 4.6

2 camden sound to augustus island

9 2 2 13 15.38 6.5

5 champagny island to adele island

17 6 6 29 20.68 5.8

10 adele island to lacepede island

76 13 13 102 12.74 10.2

5.5 lacepede island to broome

121 16 16 153 10.45 27.8

41.5 320 41 41 402 10.19

adults include juveniles cows without calves and bulls

cows are cows with calves


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date hrs survey track adults cows calves total %calves whales/ hr observation

01/08/2011

02/08/2011

04/08/2011

06/08/2011

07/08/2011

07/08/2011

09/08/2011

10/08/2011

total

4 broome to talboys rock

44 5 5 54 9.2 13.5

7.5 lacepede islands to cafarelli island

43 10 10 63 15.8 8.4

2 collier bay 15 2 2 19 10.5 9.5

2 montgomery reef to hall point

17 3 3 23 17.6 11.5

3 camden sound (incidental)

5 3 3 11 27.2 3.6

7 camden sound to adele island

31 8 8 47 17.2 6.7

10 adele island to lacepede island

38 16 16 70 22.8 7

5 lacepede island to broome

117 14 14 145 9.6 29

40.8 310 61 61 432 14.12

adults include juveniles cows without calves and bulls



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date pods adults cows calves total % calves

hrs whales/hr observation

19/07/2009

24/07/2009

08/08/2009

06/09/2009

19/07/2010

09/08/2010

23/08/2010

18/07/2011

27/07/2011

01/08/2011

10/08/2011

17 29 29 6 9.6

19 43 43 4 10.7

18 27 4 4 35 11.47 4 7.8

12 13 2 2 17 11.76 4.25 4

17 47 47 4 11.75

18 27 2 2 31 6.45 5.3 5.84

71 92 9 9 110 8.18 7 15.71

30 46 3 3 52 5.7 4 13

78 121 16 16 153 10.45 5.5 27.8

28 44 5 5 54 9.2 4 13.5

97 117 14 14 145 9.6 5 29


adults include juveniles, cows without calves, and bulls

Comparison of whale sightings Broome to the Lacepede Islands 2009 - 2011


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Combined Humpback sightings - Kimberley Whale Watching, Broome Whale Watching & Eco Beach

Combined Humpback sightings - Kimberley Whale Watching, Broome Whale Watching & Eco Beach


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Humpback sightings - Kimberley Whale Watching Trip 2 10 August 2011


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Broome Whale Watching Interactions

Broome Whale Watching was the first business to offer dedicated whale watching trips out of Broome. Their operation started in 2009 under the banner of Sentosa Charters. This new industry is situated in an area with one of the highest concentrations of Humpback whales in the world. The high number of cows and calves recorded again demonstrates the importance of the Broome area as a calving, resting and breeding area. In September 74% of interactions were cows with calves.

The higher concentration of cows and calves in September is to be expected. As the season progresses, juveniles, cows without calves and

bulls start to move south leaving a higher concentration of cows with calves.

In September 2009 57% of all the interactions were cows with calves.

month no of trips adults cows calves total %calvesjuly

2011august2011

september2011total

15 77 9 9 95 9.47

20 119 18 18 155 11.61

7 14 20 20 54 37.03

42 210 47 47 304

average number whales /trip 7.2

note: whale numbers are interactions only and do not reflect the total number of whales sighted


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date adults cows calves total % calves

16/07/2009to

31/07/2009

01/08/2009to

16/08/2009

17/08/2009to

31/08/2009

01/09/2009to

17/09/2009

59 3 3 65 4.6

62 13 13 88 14.77

40 7 7 54 12.96

27 18 18 63 28.57

sentosa charters 2009 whalewatching interactions


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Eco Beach Whale Watching Interactions - Dave and Fiona Harvey


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month no of trips adults cows calves total % calves

july

august

september

total

15 63 4 4 71 5.63

29 139 41 41 221 18.55

13 18 31 31 80 38.75

57 220 76 76 372

average number of whales/trip 6.5

note:whale numbers are interactions only and do not reflect total number of whales sighted

Eco Beach Whale Interactions 2011


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Combined whale sightings Broome Whale Watching and Eco Beach


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Injured whale - image Dave & Fiona Harvey Ship strike - image John Totterdell

Injured whale - Image Dave & Fiona Harvey Injured whale - Image Dave & Fiona Harvey


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Marine Protected Areas in the Kimberley

There are number of proposals to establish marine protected areas in Kimberley waters that will provide limited protection for the main breeding grounds of the West coast population of Humpback whales.

The proposed Camden Sound Marine Park will still allow for trawling and oil and gas development in the

general use area and provide only a small sanctuary area in Camden Sound.

The proposed Kimberley marine reserve in Commonwealth waters is by classification (IUCNV1) a multiple use resource reserve. The classification allows for “low level non industrial use of natural resources compatible with nature conservation”. The proposed marine reserves network has been designed to minimize the impacts on the offshore petroleum industry and

allows for heavy industrial development in the proposed Kimberley Marine Reserve.The proposed reserve does not meet the requirements for the IUCNV1 classification.

The proposed Marine National Park north of Cape Leveque has been placed in what could become a major shipping route. At the moment, heavy industrial shipping moves through the area en route from Koolan and Cockatoo Islands.

Shiploader Koolan Island - image Annabelle Sandes | Kimberley Media 2012


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Cockatoo Island - Image Richard Costin | Kimberley Media 2012

Proposals to mine Irvine and Bathurst Islands will increase the traffic. There is a proposal to develop a major shipping port at Point Torment north of Derby to service the mining and oil and gas industries.This will greatly increase the shipping traffic through that area. There is an huge risk of accidents with bulk carriers moving in and out of Sunday Strait.

The proposed Marine National Park is a high density area for Humpback whales between the end of June and the end of October every year. There is a real risk of ship strikes, significant disturbance and acoustic interference that could drive whales from this area.


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Jack-up rig James Price Point - August 2011. Image Annabelle Sandes | Kimberley Media 2011


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Proposed Commonwealth Marine Parks - source DEWHA


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No marine parks have been proposed for commonwealth waters between Gourdon Bay and the Lacepede Islands. This is despite the fact that this area has been recognised as a rich marine environment with high biodiversity values.

This strip of coast is also one of the most important resting, breeding, calving and possibly feeding grounds for the Humpback whales.

The proposed industrial development at James Price Point and possible development of Gourdon Bay as a mineral exports port, together with a massive increase in service shipping out of Broome will also have a huge impact on migrating Humpback whales.

It is imperative that the Commonwealth Government adopt a precautionary approach and establish significant and meaningful Marine Protected Areas along the Kimberley coast to ensure that the breeding and resting grounds and associated marine habitat for Breeding stock D remain intact.

If the proposed Kimberley Marine Reserve goes ahead in its present form, the legislation that’s put in place will

guarantee access to the offshore oil and gas industry. This may also have the effect of removing the requirement to have oil and gas developments in this region assessed under the EPBC Act.

There is now sufficient anecdotal information that supports the fact that Humpback whales are feeding in Kimberley waters. This includes the area between Adele Island and Broome,Adele island and Camden sound, the Lynher Banks and an area approximately 60nm northwest of the Lynher Banks.

The critical issue is that there is likely to be a cumulative loss of undisturbed habitat for the Humpback whales seeking quiet protected places to calve and rest.

The whale sightings of 2011 confirm that the outer shoals from Adele Island to Broome are the most important habitat area for this population of Humpback whales, perhaps more important than Camden Sound.


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Acknowledgments

Brown boobies (Sula leucogaster) leaving Adele Island at Dawn - image Annabelle Sandes | Kimberly Media 2012

Thanks to

Passengers and Crew - 2011 Kimberley Whales and Reefs ExpeditionsThe Great Escape Charter CompanyWA Department of Environment and ConservationBroome Whale Watching - Cam and Val BirchEco Beach Whale Watching - Dave and Fiona HarveySpecial thanks to Gordon and Lucille Sandes and John Totterdell

For further information and imagery visit:

www.kimberleywhales.com.auwww.kimberleymedia.com.auwww.kimberleystockphotos.com.au

http://www.bigpond.com

http://www.bigpond.com







Documents

2011 Whale Survey