Whale spotted swimming close to shore in Port Phillip Bay off Bonbeach, Chelsea and Aspendale
UPDATE: LUCKY passers-by were treated to a rare spectacle as an endangered whale came within metres of Victoria’s shore today.
VIC News
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A RARE whale has come within metres of Victoria’s shore as it swam along the coast today.
The subadult southern right whale, with distinct white markings on its head, was travelling from west to east through Port Phillip Bay.
It was spotted within 200m of Bonbeach, Chelsea and Aspendale, and whale researcher David Donnelly said it came within 15m of Frankston Pier.
Mr Donnelly, from the Dolphin Research Institute, said endangered southern right whales were only spotted in the bay once or twice a year.
Humpback whales were more commonly sighted and he said the southern right’s trip into the “very shallow, sandy-bottomed bay” was “quite unusual”.
“It stayed fairly close to shore, making its way slowly south. These guys are rarely in a hurry,” Mr Donnelly said.
The whale was seen throwing sand up as it frolicked in the shallows.
June is generally calving season for whales but Mr Donnelly said the subadult southern right appeared to be too young to give birth.
He said another whale sighting was reported in Corio Bay on Monday and it could be the same creature.
“They come into the bay for perhaps a day or two, and who knows where from there,” Mr Donnelly said.
Department of Primary Industry and Environment spokeswoman Sally Bateman said another southern right whale was also spotted near Aspendale and Frankston this morning.
Southern right whales were thought to head into the Southern Ocean and towards the sub-Antarctic islands after calving season.
“It is great to see a whale in its natural environment, but important to remember there are rules and regulations in place to protect them,” Ms Bateman said.
“Recreational boats must remain 100m away from dolphins and 200m from whales, except if approached. High impact vessels like jet skis must remain 300m away from whales and dolphins.”
tom.minear@news.com.au
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