Goals of Our Research

Humpback Whales

The primary objective of the Centre’s humpback whale research is to describe, in detail, the timing and position of the humpback whale migratory path as the whales travel between the Antarctic and the northwest coast of Australia.

The specific pieces of information (or data types) describing this migration process include:

• Individual life history records/patterns – analysis via photo-id and satellite telemetry
• Song patterns – via audio recordings analysis
• Genetic records/patterns – analysis via biopsy samples and slough skin collection
• Migratory corridor identification – analysis via aerial/boat transects and satellite telemetry

This information is made available to the Australian Government, local industry, the scientific community and the general public so that informed decisions can be achieved regarding human impact on Western Australian humpback whales

Blue Whales

The Centre for Whale Research is part of a consortium of researchers currently studying the pygmy blue whale population that frequents the Perth Canyon area off Perth, Western Australia. The study aims to describe how, when and why pygmy blue whales use the Perth Canyon, an exercise area for the Australian Defence Department. The work was initially funded by Environment Australia and was comprised of aerial surveys, boat based studies and passive acoustic studies to listen for whales, but now, under Australian Defence Department funding has expanded to include oceanography, satellite tagging, and krill biomass estimates.

The results of this study will identify areas and times where the Australian Navy can conduct its activities without impacting on pygmy blue whales as well as to substantially increase our knowledge of the habits of this endangered species.