Along with the wild, wet, and windy storms that mark the season of Makuru, we welcome the return of the majestic Southern Right Whales, seeking out protected bays along our coastline to give birth to their calves.
We’re thrilled to announce a significant expansion of the Right Whale Tracker Project along Western Australia’s South Coast. Thanks to additional funding from Water Corporation, we have extended the project’s geographical scope from Denmark all the way to Cape Arid — covering a vast and vital stretch of coastline.
To support this expansion, we’ve been running a series of training sessions for volunteers and Indigenous Rangers, equipping them with the skills to become citizen scientists and contribute to data collection on this endangered species. Sessions were held at Cheynes Beach Caravan Park, 3 Anchors at Middleton Beach, and Albany’s Historic Whaling Station at Frenchman’s Bay. Participants learned to use:
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The Marine Fauna Sightings app — to record whale sightings quickly and accurately
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The My Impact app — to log volunteer hours
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Binoculars and high-zoom cameras — to capture high-quality photographs for identification
All of this contributes to real scientific data, helping researchers better understand Southern Right Whale calving habitats and migration routes — critical knowledge for the species’ long-term survival.
This season, we have 15 Indigenous Rangers and 35 citizen scientists trained and ready. Additional training is planned for August in Esperance, with online training available year-round for those unable to attend in person. Once trained, volunteers can monitor the coastline between Denmark and Cape Arid, with further opportunities to conduct surveys aboard Albany’s whale-watching vessels.
This incredible work is a collaboration between South Coast Cetaceans, South Coast Natural Resource Management, Oceans Blueprint, and Edith Cowan University — made possible by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program, the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, and Water Corporation.
Want to help protect these endangered whales or learn more about the research?
Contact Laura at laurab@southcoastnrm.com.au or visit southcoastnrm.com.au/southern-right-whale
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