Celebrating Community Success:

Right Whale Tracker Regional Forums 2025

The first Right Whale Tracker Community Regional Forums for 2025 were a resounding success! Held in Albany and Hopetoun, these forums brought together 46 passionate volunteers, marine scientists, and conservationists to reflect on the achievements of last year’s southern right whale season.We were privileged to host Professor Chandra Salgado Kent from Edith Cowan University (ECU) & Oceans Blueprint, along with Kirsty Alexander from South Coast Cetaceans, who shared insights into the invaluable contributions of community-driven citizen science in whale conservation.

A Community Effort for Whale Conservation

The Right Whale Tracker Project is a citizen science initiative where volunteers and Indigenous Rangers conduct coastal surveys, capturing images and observations of southern right whales from a safe, legislated distance. These photographs play a crucial role in identifying individual whales based on their unique callosity patterns, allowing researchers to track their movements over time.With support from the National Environmental Science Program (funded by the Australian Government), this research helps inform sustainable coastal development and deepens our understanding of whale migration patterns along the South Coast of WA.

Get Involved!

This project is a collaborative effort between South Coast Cetaceans, South Coast NRM, Oceans Blueprint, and ECU, made possible through funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program, the Australian Government, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.If you’re passionate about marine conservation and want to be part of this incredible initiative, reach out to Laura at Laurab@southcoastnrm.com.au to find out more.Together, we can continue protecting these magnificent whales and ensuring a thriving marine ecosystem for generations to come.