Eager whale watchers are reminded to do the right thing while observing the first Southern Right Whales of the migration season as they swim north off Sydney's coast today.
The Southern Right Whale mother and calf, which are a threatened species in NSW, were tracked moving north along the state's south coast this week and reached Botany Bay approximately midday, and are expected to continue north this week during the annual whale migration.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) and the Right Whale ID Project first detected the mother off Bass Point on 12 June without a calf, then spotted her again near Merimbula on 10 July with her newborn.
Some of the best places to observe these majestic animals is from national park viewing spots along the coast, with a list available here: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/wild-about-whales/top-whale-watching-spots
People are also reminded that there is an exclusion zone of 300 metres for whales with calves, which applies in the water for vessels and in the air for drones. This is to help ensure the safety of people, and the welfare of these animals. For whales without a calf, this exclusion zone reduces to 100 metres.
NPWS is also undertaking Operation Ketos this season as mystery shoppers on guided tours to ensure that vessels are taking appropriate precautions for passengers and crew.
