Published Monday, 21 July, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
White whales are special - now it's official
Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Minister Andrew McNamara has ordered wider exclusion zones and tougher fines to protect the rarest of the whale herd that moves along Queensland's coast - Migaloo and at least one other adult white whale.
Mr McNamara said interest in the white whales has intensified following the sighting of a white calf swimming off Sydney with its mother this week, on the way to the warmer waters of North Queensland.
Migaloo was reported off Gosford on July 5 and another white whale - this one with black spots on its head and tail - was seen off North Stradbroke Island three days later.
"The message is clear - back off and let these magnificent creatures be," Mr McNamara said.
"These are extraordinarily special creatures and I have made it official
- they have been declared 'special interest' animals by law to ensure they can swim freely and safely.
"These beautiful, rare animals are now in our waters and it is every Queenslander's responsibility to ensure they aren't disturbed. That's why the already stringent controls have been beefed up."
Mr McNamara said about 10,000 whales were expected off the Queensland coast this year, up 10 per cent from 2007. "Reports already indicate this will be the biggest year since whaling ceased," he said.
He said Environmental Protection Agency officers would undertake regular surveillance during the season and urged whale watch operators and members of the public to report anyone breaking the law. "Get their rego number and call the EPA 1300 130 372 so we can investigate."
Mr McNamara said commercial whale watching boats did not have to be licensed if they were operating in Commonwealth waters, which start three nautical miles off the coast, and he would raise the matter with Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett at a meeting in Brisbane this month.
Under the new state rules governing white whales, people who bring a boat closer than 500m or an aircraft closer than 2000ft to the white whales face fines of up to $12,375.
Impeding a whale other than the whites attracts fines of up to $9000.
Boats must stay at least 100m away, jet skis can go no closer than 300m.
In the whale protection zones of Whitsunday, Lindeman and Gloucester island groups, where many whales deliver calves, no boat can go closer than 300m.
Media contact: Scott Dixon 0439 761 416
Mr McNamara said interest in the white whales has intensified following the sighting of a white calf swimming off Sydney with its mother this week, on the way to the warmer waters of North Queensland.
Migaloo was reported off Gosford on July 5 and another white whale - this one with black spots on its head and tail - was seen off North Stradbroke Island three days later.
"The message is clear - back off and let these magnificent creatures be," Mr McNamara said.
"These are extraordinarily special creatures and I have made it official
- they have been declared 'special interest' animals by law to ensure they can swim freely and safely.
"These beautiful, rare animals are now in our waters and it is every Queenslander's responsibility to ensure they aren't disturbed. That's why the already stringent controls have been beefed up."
Mr McNamara said about 10,000 whales were expected off the Queensland coast this year, up 10 per cent from 2007. "Reports already indicate this will be the biggest year since whaling ceased," he said.
He said Environmental Protection Agency officers would undertake regular surveillance during the season and urged whale watch operators and members of the public to report anyone breaking the law. "Get their rego number and call the EPA 1300 130 372 so we can investigate."
Mr McNamara said commercial whale watching boats did not have to be licensed if they were operating in Commonwealth waters, which start three nautical miles off the coast, and he would raise the matter with Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett at a meeting in Brisbane this month.
Under the new state rules governing white whales, people who bring a boat closer than 500m or an aircraft closer than 2000ft to the white whales face fines of up to $12,375.
Impeding a whale other than the whites attracts fines of up to $9000.
Boats must stay at least 100m away, jet skis can go no closer than 300m.
In the whale protection zones of Whitsunday, Lindeman and Gloucester island groups, where many whales deliver calves, no boat can go closer than 300m.
Media contact: Scott Dixon 0439 761 416