Two Bays Whale Project stops sharing sighting alerts in bid to protect whales and dolphins

As whale watchers sparked virus-spreading concerns by flocking to Mornington Peninsula piers, bad behaviour in boats has forced a leading whale watching group to stop sharing sighting alerts.

A series of distressing incidents including a boat chasing a mother and her calf has forced a leading whale watching group to stop sharing sighting alerts.

Two Bays Whale Project co-ordinator David Donnelly said the citizen science program had received a record number of complaints about boats approaching whales and dolphins

“It’s the worst year by far in terms of bad behaviour,” he said.

In one case a man filmed his boat approaching a whale and live streamed it on Facebook.

“He was giving instructions about how to get close to the whale by cutting the engines and gliding in,” Mr Donnelly said.

The incident that led to the decision to limit sighting alerts involved a boat chasing a whale and her calf around Cape Schanck.

The incident has been reported to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

“That’s when we decided to stop telling people where the whales were on days when the weather was fine,” Mr Donnelly said.

“We’ve never done that before, but felt we had to. We didn’t want to be contributing to the problem.”

Despite the drastic action the move has not stopped people flouting the rules.

Boats came too close to a whale in Mornington.

On Thursday four private boats came within 40m of a whale in shallow water near Mornington Harbour.

The appearance of the Southern Right Whale led to hundreds of people defying social distancing guidelines and crowding onto Mornington pier.

“The coronavirus pandemic adds another element of concern to how people are viewing whales,” Mr Donnelly said.

“People with nothing to do are itching to get out, the weather has been really good and it’s school holidays as well.

“All of that has added up to a big increase in people doing the wrong things around whales.”

My parents live in Mornington & my dad just sent me this pic of crowds of people on the pier watching whales...seriously!! While I’m home doing the right thing watching whales on Netflix 🤦🏽‍♀️ #COVIDIOTS #CovidVic #auspoI #news pic.twitter.com/PrcFDLFJ9b

— Pierrette (@pierrettec76) July 9, 2020

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said on Friday the crowds were “totally unacceptable”.

“(It was) a total breach of the distancing rules. Arguable whether it is even an exercise full stop or there is a reason to be there,” he said.

“That conduct won’t be permitted. If the public don’t comply, we will continue to ramp up our (fines).”

Two Bays Whale Project is run by the Dolphin Research Institute.

Mr Donnolley, who is a research officer with the institute, said more needed to be done to teach people whale watching rules and signage near places whales frequented would help.

It is against the law for a recreational vessel to come within 200m of a whale.

High impact vessels, such as jet skis, must remain 300 metres away from whales while swimmers must not come within 50 metres of a whale

Aircraft, including drones and helicopters, are not permitted within 500 vertical metres if the aircraft is operating within a 500-metre radius of a whale.

The Conservation Regulator Program manager Paul Hutcheson said “harassing” whales could make them feel threatened.

“This can lead to unpredictable behaviour which may cause people harm. We know that whales passing through the bay at this time are often with their calves, so are particularly vulnerable,” he said.

He urged people to report breaches to the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning on 136 186.

“When making a report, the more detail you can provide the better to aid the investigation. This includes the date, time, location, and descriptions of the vessel and people involved,” he said.

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