Whales pass Tasmania on a mission to find warmer waters

Whales were once a rare sight off the Tasmanian coast, but now there’s so many ‘you can even smell their breath’ at times. Here’s why that’s the case.

Whale along the Tasman Peninsula captured by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Skipper Drew Griffiths

Seeing a whale in Tasmanian waters 40 years ago was a rare occasion.

“Now during migration season it’s the opposite,” tour operator Rob Pennicott, owner of Pennicott Wilderness Adventures, said.

Mr Pennicott started commercially fishing 40 years ago and his wilderness tour business 26 years ago.

He said when he first started he would never advertise that they would see a whale, now during the migration months, they see plenty.

“It’s unusual that we don’t see a display of whales,” Mr Pennicott said.

“You can even smell their breath, there are so many.”

Clients on an adventure off Tasman Peninsula earlier this week were treated to a close encounter with a humpback.

Whale along the Tasman peninsula captured by Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Skipper Drew Griffiths

Pennicott Wilderness Adventures owner Rob Pennicott. Picture: Supplied Pennicott Wilderness Adventures.

He said tours mainly encountered humpback whales but orcas, southern right and pilot whales also made appearances. Sometimes they even spot a rare blue whale.

Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania marine conservation program wildlife officer Alexa Wolfs said it was important to follow national whale and dolphin watching guidelines during the migration period, for both human and whale safety.

Whale captured by Pennicott Wilderness Cruise Tasman Island Cruises skipper Tim Cunningham.

Humpback whale near Tasman Island. Picture: Pennicott Wilderness Cruise Tasman Island Cruises skipper Tim Cunningham.

“It’s super lucky and exciting but it is an important time of the year for them as they are travelling through Tasmanian waters to get to the breeding grounds,” Ms Wolfs said.

“We encourage people to enjoy watching the whales but they do need to keep a good distance from them so as not to disturb them,” she said.

“We don’t want them to change their natural behaviours or change their route.”

Ms Wolfs said the northern migration period started in May as the whales left their feeding grounds for breeding grounds in warmer waters.

The whales will again pass through Tasmanian waters when they begin their Southern migration in August.

For information on whale watching guidelines visit the NRE Tas website.

People are encouraged to report whale sightings, strandings and entanglements to 0427 WHALES

Whale captured by Pennicott Wilderness Cruise Tasman Island Cruises skipper Tim Cunningham.

Originally published as Whales pass Tasmania on a mission to find warmer waters