Southern Right Whale Sighting Study

METHODS
This study is focusing in Australian waters, especially in Queensland waters. Most sightings are occurred in southeast region around Moreton Bay, which is declared as a marine park in 1993 and have covered more than 3000 km2 multiple use marine protected area. This marine park has four large sand islands (Moreton, Bribie, N. Stradbroke, and S. Stradbroke Island), where the majority of sightings in Queensland occurred on its waters. (Chilvers 2005). This paper is reviewing some journals of southern right whale sightings that related with this species description, population, threats and behaviour, focusing on how this species appeared in Queensland waters.

In identifying large marine mammals like the southern right whale, several

In 1955 there was a report of sighting, and since 1960s the number started growing until 1990s, where the rate reach up to 7% and doubling every 10 year. Recent studies show that population in Australia is estimated around 2000-2500 individuals, where total world individual reaching 15,000 (Bannister 2008; Kenney 2009). From all sighting reports in Queensland waters (Table 1), two of six were reported as a cow-calf appearances (Bribie Island and North Stradbroke Island) . Table 1. Southern right whale sightings on the east coast of Australia from 1993 to 2002. (Allen and Bejder, 2003).

No. Location Latitude Year Source
1. Harvey Bay 24°41 '5 2000 Brigden

In Moreton Bay, southern right whale habitat is receiving pressure from human population growth, which resulted in habitat degradation. Human activities near and inside marine park produce sewage, chemical,and noise pollution, also from other recreational activities such as fishing and boat strike that largerly contribute to conservation concern. As sightings growing, a continuous studies such as measurement of ecological factors, along with protection and ecological restoration that supports southern right whale habitat is highly recommended since this species shows an unexpected migration pattern and trend of recovering. Moreton Bay Marine Park already provides some management for ecological protection, while still considering some political, social, and economic factors, for example, the spiritual relation between marine mammals and indigenous people. This issue should be upgraded to a specific framework for marine mammals and the main needs for conserving large diversity of the ecosystem must be taken