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Scientists baffled at 60 per cent drop in migrating whale sightings off South West of WA
By Neve Brissenden and Madigan Landry
ABC South West WA
Tuesday 30 June
...
WA's coastline is a critical migration route for several whale species, with humpbacks making their northward migration to their breeding grounds between June and November.
In a recent national whale census, scientists and volunteers at Cape Naturaliste, 260 kilometres south of Perth, spotted just 22 humpback whales, compared to 69 and 62 in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Geographe Marine Research group chair Capri Jolliffe said the figures were highly unusual, and far beyond the 20 per cent variability that scientists would expect.
"I would not expect [food availability] to account for this much discrepancy in numbers ... there's definitely something else at play," she said.
...
Whale-watching charter operator Paul Cross said this year's whale numbers were the worst he's seen in 17 years of operation.
...
"I've never seen the numbers in Flinders Bay as low as what I have this season," he said.
"The numbers of these whales were down around about 60-65 per cent -- for us, that's starting to get really concerning."
Mr Cross said he doubted the usual reasons for reduced numbers were the sole cause for the drop-off.
"We could say 'listen, it's a very late season or they're just a little bit out further than what we would normally see them'," he said.
"The whales we've seen aren't happy, and something is causing that, and we want to find out what it is.
"That's not normal."
...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-30/whale-numbers-mysteriously-drop-off-south-west-coast/106860534?utm_source=chatgpt.com
By Neve Brissenden and Madigan Landry
ABC South West WA
Tuesday 30 June
...
WA's coastline is a critical migration route for several whale species, with humpbacks making their northward migration to their breeding grounds between June and November.
In a recent national whale census, scientists and volunteers at Cape Naturaliste, 260 kilometres south of Perth, spotted just 22 humpback whales, compared to 69 and 62 in 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Geographe Marine Research group chair Capri Jolliffe said the figures were highly unusual, and far beyond the 20 per cent variability that scientists would expect.
"I would not expect [food availability] to account for this much discrepancy in numbers ... there's definitely something else at play," she said.
...
Whale-watching charter operator Paul Cross said this year's whale numbers were the worst he's seen in 17 years of operation.
...
"I've never seen the numbers in Flinders Bay as low as what I have this season," he said.
"The numbers of these whales were down around about 60-65 per cent -- for us, that's starting to get really concerning."
Mr Cross said he doubted the usual reasons for reduced numbers were the sole cause for the drop-off.
"We could say 'listen, it's a very late season or they're just a little bit out further than what we would normally see them'," he said.
"The whales we've seen aren't happy, and something is causing that, and we want to find out what it is.
"That's not normal."
...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-30/whale-numbers-mysteriously-drop-off-south-west-coast/106860534?utm_source=chatgpt.com