Pittwater Life December 2017 Issue

News
Testing times for humpback whale research
The Palm Beachbased
conservation
group Living Ocean
is undergoing a major
refocus, launching a
new website that shares
information on upcoming
projects, how to get
involved and fundraising
for a vessel to enable vital
research to continue.
Founded in 2010,
the group’s work cuts
through all levels of the
community from the ‘No
Plastic Please’ campaign
in partnership with our
local schools, to youthled
beach clean-ups, film
nights, lectures and scientific research.
Its major research project occurs
every year during the whale migration
season when scientists and volunteers
from Living Ocean’s Centre for Marine
Studies study humpback whales that
migrate along the east coast.
The study – licensed by State and
Commonwealth agencies including
an Ethics Committee – continues an
innovative program that began in 2004
recording the whales’ migratory tracks.
Recently, Living Ocean made national
headlines when its data, collected
though a ground-breaking app designed
by member Bill Fulton, was used to help
halt a gas company’s plan to conduct
seismic testing in waters 40 kilometres
south of Newcastle.
Living Ocean President Robbi Newman
said the proposed area of testing would
have covered about 208 kilometres and
was scheduled during the peak time for
the southern migration of humpback
whales and their calves.
“This testing time and
location would have been
devastating had it gone
ahead as our extensive
research shows this is
within the peak time
(August-December) of the
southern migration of the
humpback whales and
the proposed location of
the seismic survey is also
directly in their path,”
Robbi explained.
After taking the data on
board, the Perth-based gas
company Asset Energy,
now plans to conduct
its testing in January/
February 2018, when there are very few
whales about.
“This is an enormous plus for the
whales and the ocean environment,”
Robbi said.
The team is urgently seeking
donations or access to a boat to ensure
Living Ocean can continue whale
research off our shores.
Go to livingocean.org.au to learn
more about how you can get involved.
– Lisa Offord
6 DECEMBER 2017
The Local Voice Since 1991