Drone photographs capture rare fin whales off WA coast
Researchers say the two sightings in Geographe Bay offer information about a species usually monitored through underwater sound recordings.
Drone pilots have photographed two fin whales in separate encounters in WA's Geographe Bay as the species migrates north. The sightings occurred 220 kilometres south of Perth, where researchers say visual records of the whales are uncommon.
Capri Jolliffe, chair of Geographe Marine Research, said one whale swam through shallow water within 50 metres of a land-based observation platform. The other was spotted close to 2 kilometres offshore.
Researchers often track fin whales using underwater microphones rather than direct observation. Dr Jolliffe said the sounds distinguish species and populations, helping scientists establish where whales travel and when they are present.
Macquarie University marine scientist Vanessa Pirotta said drone users who complied with flight restrictions contributed useful information to research. She said the footage might indicate movements previously documented through sound but not observed. WA requires drones to remain at least 60 metres from marine mammals.
Local drone pilot Scott Baxter said he initially mistook the whale he filmed for a small blue whale. Fin whales rank behind only blue whales in length and usually stay beneath the surface. Their numbers are still recovering after whaling killed about 700,000 during the 20th century.
The migration season on the South West coast is expected to last until late October.
