Whale Season Returns to Victoria’s Sheltered Bay
Melbourne, Australia — Humpback and southern right whales have begun their annual northern migration along Australia’s southeast coast, and some of these 40-ton nomads are detouring into Port Phillip Bay, according to a press release by the Dolphin Research Institute. Three humpbacks have already been confirmed inside the Heads this season, delighting shoreline spectators from Seaford to Mount Martha and reminding locals that Victoria’s busiest recreational waterway is also part of a marine superhighway.
Why Boats Menace Humpbacks in Port Phillip
While a close encounter may thrill boat owners and holidaymakers, scientists say the sheltered waters of Port Phillip amplify the risks. The bay funnels marine traffic from yacht clubs, charter operators, personal watercraft and commercial shipping lanes into a relatively narrow space. A 12-metre humpback can weigh more than 50 times an average pleasure craft; a moment’s misjudgment at speed could injure the animal, damage the vessel or both. In recent years, the Institute’s Two Bays Whale Project has logged a growing number of recreational boats shadowing whales at distances far inside the legal limit. Victoria’s Wildlife (Marine Mammal) Regulations require powered vessels to stay at least 200 metres from any large whale, while Jet Skis must keep a 300-metre buffer. Fines can reach several thousand dollars, but enforcement on the water is difficult and often reactive.
A Neighborhood Watch for Whales
The Dolphin Research Institute has introduced a Whale Distancing Program that invites skippers to pledge safe-boating practices and report harassment incidents. “It’s like a neighbourhood watch for whales,” said Jeff Weir, the Institute’s executive director. A network of trained citizen scientists already supplies the group with real-time sighting data across the Bellarine and Mornington peninsulas and around Phillip Island.
What Travelers and Skippers Need to Know
1. Legal approach distances: 200 metres for boats, 300 metres for personal watercraft, 500 metres for aircraft including drones. 2. Speed recommendations: slow to six knots or less within 300 metres of any whale if you encounter one unexpectedly. 3. Viewing etiquette: never cut across a whale’s path, never pursue, and place engines in neutral if a whale surfaces nearby. 4. Reporting: log sightings or unlawful behavior via the Dolphin Research Institute website or the Victorian EPA hotline 1300 372 842. Observing these guidelines reduces the likelihood that boats menace humpbacks in Port Phillip and helps scientists collect consistent behavioral data for conservation studies.
Travel Tips for Ethical Whale Watching
Planning a winter weekend around the bay? Consider these suggestions: • Choose land vantage points first. Clifftop walks at Mornington, the pier at Queenscliff and the Nobbies boardwalk on Phillip Island often yield superb views without leaving solid ground. • Book a licensed eco-cruise. Operators who meet Tourism Australia’s accreditation standards brief passengers on marine-mammal regulations and maintain respectful distances with electric propulsion or slow-speed hulls. • Pack binoculars and a long lens. Zoom optics let you enjoy fluke slaps and breaching behavior while your boat remains outside the exclusion zone. • Dress for windchill. Even on calm winter days, bay breezes strip heat quickly; layer waterproof outer shells over thermals and bring gloves for rail leaning. • Time the tides. Slack water around high tide often sees whales navigating the Heads when currents ease, improving chances of a sighting from Point Lonsdale Lighthouse Reserve or Point Nepean National Park.
Whales in Bass Strait: More Than a Highway
The Institute’s newly released whitepaper, “More Than a Migratory Corridor: Humpback Whale Feeding and Calving in Bass Strait,” documents evidence of humpbacks lingering in the strait to feed and nurse calves. That finding strengthens the case for stringent environmental assessments of wind farms, shipping channel upgrades and other large-scale projects proposed for offshore Victoria. For travelers, the research underscores how special — and fragile — these seasonal visits are.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to see humpbacks in Port Phillip?
Peak passage generally runs from late June through August as whales head north, with an occasional southbound return in September or October.
Can I swim or kayak near whales?
No. Entering the water within 300 metres of a whale is prohibited and dangerous. Paddlers should exit the path of any approaching animal immediately.
Are drones allowed for whale photography?
Civil Aviation Safety Authority rules require drones to remain 500 metres from marine mammals unless the pilot holds a specific scientific permit.
What should I do if a whale approaches my vessel?
Place engines in neutral, maintain direction, and allow the whale to pass. Sudden acceleration or course changes can startle the animal and raise collision risk.
How to Support Local Conservation Efforts
The Dolphin Research Institute receives no ongoing government funding and relies on donations, memberships and an annual Winter Appeal. Travelers can: • Adopt a dolphin or whale through symbolic sponsorships. • Volunteer for beach-based surveys during migration months. • Share photographs with time and GPS stamps; these help researchers confirm individual whales through fluke pattern matching. • Follow responsible-boating pledges and encourage charter companies to sign up.
Key Takeaways for Jetsetter Guide Readers
Boats menace humpbacks in Port Phillip when skippers ignore approach limits, but travelers can enjoy world-class whale watching safely by respecting distance regulations, choosing ethical operators and reporting any harassment. The sheltered bay offers unique opportunities to spot whales against an urban skyline — a thrill few global cities can match — yet that proximity demands extra vigilance. By following the Institute’s Whale Distancing guidelines, visitors help ensure these giants of the deep keep treating Port Phillip as a welcome rest stop on their epic journey north. — Source: Dolphin Research Institute press release
