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11 th International Symposium for GIS and Computer Cartography for Coastal Zones Managementgration period.Current literature suggests that whale distribution patterns are influenced by a combination of long-term maternallydirected fidelity along migratory pathways, in combination with ecological and oceanographic aspects, whichmay influence habitat preference and behaviour. As the eastern Australian humpback whale populations continue toincrease, it appears that their range has begun to expand beyond their traditional migratory routes, moving awayfrom more densely populated areas and shifting into coastal embayments where sightings were previously infrequentor negligible. This ‘spill over’ into new regions is particularly important for mother-calf pairs, who are migrating tothe polar feeding grounds for the first time and are in need of suitable habitats for protection against the elements orharassment from predators or conspecifics. These changing habitat usage trends have important coastal managementimplications.The Jervis Bay Marine Park Zoning Plan does not currently outline protection for humpback whales when theyare in the vicinity. However, park management must adhere to New South Wales and Commonwealth legislationincluding the Whale Protection Act 1980; the Marine Parks Act 1982; The Endangered Species Protection Act 1994;and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, to ensure their protection from anthropogenicdisturbance. Geostatistical analysis of whale sighting records provides important information to establish keywhale usage areas and identify potential spatial conflicts associated with exposure to human activities, such ascommercial and recreational fishing and naval activities within Jervis Bay. Results of this analysis may be used toinform marine spatial planning within the Marine Park and critique current zone boundaries. This paper presentspreliminary findings on the usage patterns of Jervis Bay by mother-calf groups on their southern migration, highlightingthe conservation significance of this shallow coastal embayment. Although commercial whale-watchingoperations involve extensive coverage of the Bay, bias introduced by sampling effort can result in spatially autocorrelatedsighting data. This needs to be considered, in addition to challenges associated with sampling vagile species.Further work will continue on the contribution and limitations of citizen science based volunteer data in maintaininglong-term records of cetacean observations.AcknowledgmentsThe authors thank Scott Sheehan (Marine Mammal Research), for his significant contribution to the whale sightingprogram; Matthew Carr and Nathan Knott (Jervis Bay Marine Park Authority) for research support and provisionof marine datasets and; Dolphin Watch Cruises for provision of the whale sighting data.ReferencesValsecchi, E., P. Hale, P. Corkeron, and W. Amos (2002), “Social structure in migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)”.Molecular Ecology, 11:507–518.Brown, M. and P. Corkeron (1995), “Pod characteristics of migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) off the eastAustralian coast”. Behaviour, 3:63–179.Bryden, M.M. (1985), Studies of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Area V. In Studies of Sea Mammals in SouthLatitudes, ed. by J.K. Ling and M.M. Bryden. South Australian Museum, Adelaide: 115–23.Clapham, P.J. (2000) “The humpback whale”, In: J. Mann, R.C. Conner, P.L. Tyack, and H. Whitehead. (eds.). Cetacean societies:Field studies of dolphins and whales. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL: 173–196.Corkeron, P., M. Brown, R. Slade, and M. Bryden (1994), “Humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae (Cetaceaa: Balaenopteridae),in Hervey Bay, Queensland”. Wildlife Research, 21:293–205.Ersts, P.J. and H.C. Rosenbaum (2003), “Habitat preference reflects social organization of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)on a wintering ground”. Journal of Zoology, 260:337–345.Franklin,T., W. Franklin, L. Brooks, P. Harrison, P. Baverstock, and P. Clapham (2010), ”Seasonal changes in pod characteristicsof eastern Australian humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Hervey Bay 1992-2005”. Marine Mammal Science:134–152.Ord, J. K., and A. Getis (1995). “Local spatial autocorrelation statistics: distribution issues and an application”. GeographicalAnalysis, 27(4):286–306.Smultea, M.A. (1994), “Segregation by humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) cows with a calf in coastal habitat near theisland of Hawaii”. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 72:805–811.158