Observations of Whales on ANARE Voyages between Australia and Antarctica

Abstract

Since 1948 sightings of whales have been recorded by ANARE ships voyaging to Antarctica. Between 1961 and 1972 more detailed observations were made. In the 1976-77 season a continuous watch was maintained for 4h daily for some of the voyages of one ship. Details of the sightings of 532 whales, both baleen and toothed, are given and compared with previous sightings. The majority of whales were seen in high latitudes, in the region of the Gaussberg-Kerguelen Ridge. Sei whales formed the highest percentage, the majority of them being seen below 60Ds. This survey presents an independent method of monitoring the whale population densities of the Australian sector of the Southern Ocean.