GEOGRAPHICAL AND TEMPORAL MOVEMENTS OF HUMPBACK WHALES IN WESTERN AUSTRALIAN WATERS

Abstract

Through compilation of historical whaling data, together with recent aerial and boat-based survey data, a general framework for the overall peaks of migration has been estimated for the temporal and spatial movements of Group IV humpback whales along the Western Australian coast.

The migratory paths of humpback whales along the Western Australian coast lie within the continental shelf boundary or 200 m bathymetry. Major resting areas along the migratory path have been identified at Exmouth Gulf (southern migration only) and at Shark Bay. The northern endpoint of migration and resting area for reproductively active whales in the population appears to be Camden Sound in the Kimberley. A 6,750 square km2 area of the Kimberley region, inclusive of Camden Sound, has also been identified as a major calving ground. The northern and southern migratory paths have been shown to be divergent at the Perth Basin, Dampier Archipelago and Kimberley regions. In all cases the northern migratory route is further off-shore.