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Navy
funds canyon whale study
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A
3D cross section image of the Perth Canyon which ranges
in depth from 700-400 metres west of Rottnest. The canyon
is a popular feeding ground for mainly pygmy blue whales
during the summer months and is also used as a navy exercise
area. Image courtesy: Dr Rob McCauley.
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A four
kilometre deep canyon west of Rottnest is under the microscope as
part of a Navy-funded research program.
The research is designed to determine the number of pygmy blue whales
that visit the area, which is also popular with warships and submarines.
The three-year study is looking at how many whales visit the area
in search of krill and when they are in the neighbourhood.
Heading the study is Curtin University senior researcher Dr Rob
McCauley who said Navy was keen to nail down whale movements as
part of its commitment to protect the environment.
“This is an area that is relatively close to Garden Island
so they thought it would be a good idea to fund a study to see how
many whales were out there, where they are and why they turn up,”
Dr McCauley told Navy News.
He said the project was sparked by Navy’s obligations under
the Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act.
“This has been around for a couple of years now and puts an
obligation on all big groups, such as Navy, to make sure that they
act environmentally responsible, particularly they can’t in
any way threaten the listed endangered species and blue whales are
listed endangered species.
“They have to satisfy Environment Australia that they are not
threatening them somehow by their activities so that is why they
have put the money in to find out what the whales are doing.”
He said the main risk was the volume of ships and submarines potentially
in the same relatively small area known as the Perth Canyon, which
ranges in depth from 700-4000 metres, at the same time as the whales.
Dr McCauley said it was unusual for large numbers of whales to be
in the same place at the one time but research so far indicates
the presence of krill over the summer months, particularly February
to March, was probably the main reason for the large congregation
of the animals.
Dr McCauley said the project is expected to be completed in about
two years time.
The project is a joint effort between Curtin University, the West
Australian Museum, the Centre for Whale Research, Western Whale,
and the University of Western Australia, with support from CSIRO.
Dr McCauley said he expected the Navy will build the findings of
the project into its environmental management plans to enable exercises
to be planned around the movements of the whales.
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