The team from SURFAH (Surface and Underwater Research on Feeding Australian Humpback whales) are back again, this time with a bigger boat, bigger crew and longer research period.  Last night (Wednesday 12th September) the team gave a very interesting presentation on their work to a community audience at the Marine Discovery Centre.  The team, led by Kylie Owen who is studying for her PhD through the University of Wollongong, gave an overview of the objectives of their research, the methodology they will use and an understanding of how all the data they collect translates into useful data to help better manage these wonderful creatures.

Kylie’s supervisor is well-known whale guru Dave Donnelly and this year the team is enhanced by Assoc Professor Joe Warren from the Acoustic Laboratory for Ecological Studies at Stoney Brook University in the US.  Joe is helping Kylie with the use of an echo sounder which will recdord the 3D distribution of the prey (krill) the whales are targeting.

Keep an eye on the water for the big black research vessel ‘RV Blackfish’ and if you do see them at work, please don’t be tempted to rush in for a better look.  Australia’s east coast humpback whale populations are increasing at a rate greater than 10% p.a. so there are plenty of whales out there for everybody to see.  If you interfere with the work the research team is doing, it may jeopardise their results.  Team members are more than happy to chat with you once they’re back on dry land!

The SURFAH team after their presentation at SCMDC. Photo by Scott Sheehan.