Get Ready for the 2020 Whale Watching Season

How exciting is this! The official commencement of the whale watching season in Cronulla commences on May 20 and finishes on November 1, 2020. There is a huge fascination for whales. Their size and grace is what captures the publics imagination not to mention the care the mother whale gives to her calf.

In 2019 our purpose built vessel the Whale Watcher ran 2 tours a day from Wednesday through to Sunday. The positive reaction from all our guests was fantastic. To see the joy on the faces of people from all ages and walks of life gave us great satisfaction. We are very experienced at finding and respecting the space of these whales as they migrate.

What Whales Migrate along Australian Coasts?

Humpback and Southern Right whales are the most common whales that migrate to Australian waters. The humpback travels around 5000 kilometres on it migratory journey. The southern right typically breeds in the southern waters of Australia but has been sighted as far as hervey bay in Queensland. During the summer months humpback whales feed in Antarctica. As autumn approaches humpbacks begin their journey to the warmer tropical waters of the Pacific to breed and calve. Their return journey to the south is in spring. The southern right whale breeds in the southern waters of Australia.

There are about 40 – 45 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises that have been seen in Australian waters. Some of these include the mighty Orca, Minke whales, Bottlenose dolphins and pygmy sperm whales.

Humpback Whale Population Recovers

Way back in the 1950’s the population of the western atlantic humpback whale was at near extinction. The numbers had fallen to around 450. However, safeguards were put in place to revover the numbers. By the 1980s the International Whaling Commission put a stop to all commercial whalers. As a result the humpback whale has around 90% of its original population. This brings the number of western south atlantic humpbacks up to approximately 25,000. This is great news for whale lovers and watchers globally.

Humpback Whale numbers are on the rise

Due to a collective international programme whale numbers are marching ahead. The population of humpback whales is doubling every 7 years. This could see humpback whale numbers rise to 50,000 by the year 2026.