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Minke whale
Photo: A. Birtles, CRC Reef |
Dwarf Minke Whales
The little known dwarf minke whale was only discovered in Great Barrier
Reef (GBR) waters during the 1980s, and research into its biology and
ecology has only recently begun.
During the 1990s, live-aboard dive tour operators in the Cairns section
of the GBR began reporting in-water interactions with these whales along
the Ribbon Reefs during the winter months. Since 1996, Dr Alastair Birtles
(James Cook University) and Dr Peter Arnold (Museum of Tropical Queensland),
assisted by Undersea Explorer, have been studying the biology and behaviour
of these whales. At the same time, the dynamics of the interactions between
the whales and dive tourists have been studied to develop a framework
for managing these interactions in an ecologically sustainable manner.
Outcomes of the project have included the development of a Code of Practice
for swimming with whales which was tested with extensive input from dive
operators and their passengers, and interpretative material for the industry,
developed and tested over the two-year period.
Much remains unknown about these whales and the long-term impacts of
their human encounters, however, the Minke Whale Project will continue
to monitor potential impacts on the whales while pursuing further management-orientated
research into their biology and behaviour.
Research Team
Members of the research team include Dr Peter Arnold (Museum of Tropical
Queensland); Dr Alastair Birtles (Chief Investigator, CRC Reef and James
Cook University), Peter Valentine and Matt Curnock (James Cook University),
and Andy Dunstan and Monique Matthews (Undersea Explorer).
Acknowledgments
The Minke Whale Project is a combined initiative of James Cook University,
the Museum of Tropical Queensland and Undersea Explorer. The project has
been partially funded by NHT (June 1999 - June 2001) under the Marine
Species Protection Program (Coast and Clean Seas) of the Commonwealth
Department of the Environment (Environment Australia) and is managed by
the CRC Reef Research Centre Ltd. The project would not be possible without
the support of the participating Cairns section live-aboard dive industry
operators.
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