Southern right whale and her calf in Jervis Bay Marine Park

A new whale monitoring program, Right Whale ID, which uses drone technology to legally capture images of southern right whales off the NSW coast, is delivering amazing results.

From 1790 to 1850, whaling was a major export industry in NSW. Tens of thousands of southern right whales once made an annual migration from Antarctic waters to bays along the Tasmanian, Victorian and NSW coast, with some venturing as far as Hervey Bay in Queensland. They were hunted until there were so few left that it was no longer a viable business. It is nearly 60 years since whaling ended in NSW.

Today, the endangered Southeast Australian population of southern right whales is thought to be less than 300 individuals, with fewer than 70 venturing into NSW waters.

There were recently two pairs of mother and calves sighted near Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast.  Southern right whales use our bays and estuaries as a refuge and a pre-school where they teach their calves how to breach and feed before heading back to Antarctica for summer.

Every southern right whale, even the calves, have white hardened skin patches called callosities on their heads that create distinct, individual patterns. Analysis of the photos from the drones is being used to identify individuals, monitor them and better understand their behaviour by building up a library of images year on year.

The Right Whale ID pilot program involves National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) notifying CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) accredited drone operators who have trained with NPWS (National Parks and Wildlife Service) Marine Wildlife Officers to ensure they comply with the legal marine mammal approach distances. Drones must keep at least 100 metres away from all marine mammals in NSW. These cropped images were taken from a drone at 100 metres with a high-resolution camera.

Participation in the Right Whale ID pilot program is currently by invitation only and is funded under the Marine Estate Management Strategy (MEMS).

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