- Marine Fauna Sightings app to help protect migrating humpback whales and boost marine research
- Timely and automated data collection will help minimise the risk of whale entanglements in fishing gear
- App upgraded to record sightings of turtles, dolphins, dugongs, and sea snakes
Western Australian boaties and commercial operators are encouraged to report migrating humpback whales and other marine animals through the State Government's revamped Marine Fauna Sightings app.
The redeveloped app will provide vital research data to help reduce whale entanglements in fishing gear during their migration along the WA coast.
The easy-to-use app has been expanded to include reporting of other marine life including turtles, dolphins, dugongs, and sea snakes Australia-wide.
The Marine Fauna Sightings app was developed with the support of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Western Rock Lobster, led by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in partnership with Australian Antarctic Division and the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions.
The initial focus will be on commercial operators in fisheries, eco-tourism, and shipping to use the updated app to report humpback whales and other whale species sighted along the WA coast.
The app automatically adds the GPS location, date, and time from the phone or device being used to pinpoint the location of the sighting and then the species can be selected from the extensive identification list or a photo can be taken and uploaded as part of the report.
The data collected will provide fisheries researchers with a better understanding of the timing of humpback whale migration and how it may change each year.
This information supports the implementation of management strategies by pot-based commercial and recreational fisheries to minimise the risk of whale entanglements.
While the app supports avoiding entanglements, it is still important that any actual whale entanglements are reported to the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055 as soon as possible, rather than the Marine Fauna Sightings App.
The app can be downloaded from the Apple or Google Play stores or by visiting the DPIRD website
As stated by Fisheries Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"The Marine Fauna Sightings app is a great way for the community to contribute to important fisheries research with more specific and timely information on whale movements along our coast.
"This research further reinforces the Cook Government's commitment to maintaining sustainable fisheries and protecting marine fauna through world-leading research and management.
"I encourage everyone to become a citizen scientist and download the app to contribute to valuable research."
As stated by the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"The humpback whale migration is starting to get underway so it is the perfect opportunity for people out on the water to report what they see on the Marine Fauna Sightings app.
"Eco-tourism operators are being encouraged to use the improved app to log reports of whale sightings as part of their tours, providing more timely and accurate information to researchers.
"Data collected through the app will also be used to support other citizen science programs including DolphinWatch and the Right Whale Tracker project along the south coast.
