Beyond Collinsville, this season, Hobart is abuzz with atypical cetacean movement. Southern right and humpback whales have been seen in the lagoon! For marine biologist Dr. Marcus Salton, the last 15 years have had him seeing less and less southern right whales. Simultaneously, as an acoustician, he observed blue whales feeding behavior on Tasmania’s east coast. The peculiar phenomenon has attracted widespread interest from local residents and ocean lovers.
As a scientist, Dr. Salton emphasized the value of whale observations. Southern right whales have an intriguing “logging” behavior, which causes them to appear like floating logs when resting at the water’s surface. As he described, these whales undertake an incredible migration. From Antarctica, they cross the Southern Ocean to migrate to Australia. They are seen in much lower numbers, so we’re very excited to hear about any southern right whale sightings. Specifically, we’re interested in if you’ve seen them in the wild.
What the renewed pulse of activity has done is fuel curiosity among the people who live there. Thanks to the Williams family for sharing what turned out to be an incredible adventure! They viewed humpback whales from their sailing vessel while transiting the River Derwent. It was a magnificent sight, especially near the new Risdon Zinc Works. This whale sighting provided an incredible start to the whale watching season in the area.
Southern Right Whales on the Move
His findings Dr. Salton presented recently indicated that sightings of southern right whales have decreased in recent years. This reduction is worrying for biologists who are studying these majestic animals more than ever. As Dr. Salton described it, if they were to receive new knowledge about southern right whales, they might send a plane or drone into action. That will enable them to identify and capture photographs of those whales to add back into the national database.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the southern right whale migration is the difficulties along the way, as each migratory leg requires navigating large, open ocean waters. It’s occurred in the past, but that’s quite rare,” he said of the current situation. Seeing these whales up close is key to studying them, learning more about their behaviors and needs, and keeping them safe throughout this long migration.
Dr. Salton further fueled the mystery by mentioning that dolphins have been observed feeding on bait fish. These fish have stayed in the region’s waters significantly later than normal. The broader change in marine life dynamics is probably increasing whale sightings. Whales are getting closer to shore to take advantage of all those resources.
Humpbacks Delight Local Residents
Residents are rightly transfixed by the marine giants’ presence—including piggybacking pairs of humpbacks—each spring. Unfortunately, the frequency of these sightings will be subsiding as we get closer to late June/early July. As Dr. Salton remarked, these whales have a strong affinity for shallow, protected waters. These areas are abundant in the Derwent and Storm Bay regions. With the whales cruising and frolicking in the clear, shallow waters. They’re just on a pause before charging up the north coast,” he added.
Bec Williams couldn’t contain her excitement when describing her first experience whale watching, “It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever done. She thought back to her husband’s stubbornness about purchasing a boat. A very demanding customer—he wanted to be able to chase after whales as soon as they were spotted! Williams expressed her awe at these remarkable animals: “I don’t think people realise how incredible whales actually are.”
Dr Salton added that it is really important to adhere to guidelines when whale watching. This method ensures that encounters are safe for whales and people alike. It protects the safety of all boaters and whales alike. In reducing disturbances, we want to see the whales continue to use this area well into the future,” he said.
Reporting Sightings
This is why local authorities hope citizens will report any whale sightings directly to them, to improve tracking efforts and support bigger marine conservation projects. People who are interested should contact 0427 942 537 to contribute what they’ve seen or experienced.
Whale watching has recently become immensely popular in Hobart. The community is deeply involved in protecting and celebrating the diverse marine life that visits its waters. Creative enforcement activists, researchers like Dr. Salton and passionate locals including Birdie Williams are continuing these efforts to protect these majestic beasts. It’s their passion that will guarantee interest in them will remain sky high.
