Media release - 17 July
2009 - An endangered pygmy blue whale has
shown that we still have much to learn about
the world's cetaceans and reinforced the
importance of Australia's non-lethal whale
research.
Environment Minister
Peter Garrett and Indonesian Fisheries Minister
Freddy Numberi today announced that a pygmy
blue whale, tagged with a satellite tracker
off Perth, has travelled as far north as
the Banda Sea, in Indonesia.
"Not only is this
the first successful long term tagging of
this species in Australia, this is also
the first confirmation of direct links between
pygmy blue whales off Southern Australia
and Indonesian waters," Minister Garrett
said.
Researchers from the
Australian Marine Mammal Centre tagged the
young male pygmy blue whale in the Perth
Canyon, a seasonal feeding area for pygmy
blue whales. Pygmy blue whales are a subspecies
of the blue whale, the largest animal to
ever live on earth.
"Since April, this whale has travelled
along the west coast of Australia, into
Indonesian waters and is currently in the
Banda Sea, just south of the equator,"
Mr Garrett said.
"It is truly fascinating
to see the details of the whale's route
to the warmer northern waters. Much of the
migration is at a steady pace up our west
coast, in contrast to areas where it slows
and meanders. This whale spent about a week
just outside the Indonesian government's
new Savu Sea National Marine Park, it then
swam directly through the marine park,"
he said.
"Marine parks can
play an important role in marine mammal
conservation and I congratulate the Indonesian
Government for taking concerted action in
this important area.
"The very nature
of oceans and marine species means actions
taken by one country, or in this case two
neighbouring countries, can greatly benefit
the wider regional and global community,"
Minister Garrett said.
The new Savu Sea National
Marine Park is located in the Lesser Sundas
of East Nusa Tenggara in eastern Indonesia
and is considered a likely important highway
for migrating oceanic species including
whales, small cetaceans and turtles.
"I am encouraged
that Australia and Indonesia's collaboration,
including our involvement in the new Coral
Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries
and Food Security (CTI), will lead to better
protection of our shared vulnerable species,"
Minister Garrett said.
Australia launched a
phased, multi-year commitment in support
of the CTI in May, including an immediate
contribution of $2 million in direct support.
"This occurrence
highlights the benefits of non-lethal whale
research techniques," Minister Garrett
said.
Last month the International
Whaling Commission endorsed a five-year
non-lethal whale research proposal for the
Australian-led Southern Ocean Research Partnership.
You can see the migratory
path of the whale plus other images of him
at the pygmy blue whale media centre www.environment.gov.au/pygmybluewhale-mediacentre
