The Minke Whale Project ...

• Main Authors: Birtles, R Alastair, Curnock, Matthew, Sobtzick, Susan, Arnold, Peter, Valentine, Peter
• Format: Dataset
• Language: unknown
• Published: James Cook University 2022
• Subjects: Wildlife and habitat management 410407; Population ecology 310307; Tourist behaviour and visitor experience 350806; minke whale
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25903/1j26-ka69; https://researchdata.jcu.edu.au/published/df6b81f0cb5b11ec96e79967aec3951f

The Minke Whale Project (based at James Cook University, North Queensland, Australia) conducts multi-disciplinary research into dwarf minke whale biology and behaviour, the social and economic values of the whales and the sustainable management of swim-with-whales tourism. The MWP research team works collaboratively with the GBR swim-with-minke whales tourism industry, Reef managers and wildlife conservation NGOs. Dwarf minke whales visit the northern Great Barrier Reef each austral winter, forming the only known predictable aggregation of these whales in the world. Growing up to eight metres and weighing several tonnes, they are exceptionally inquisitive and often approach boats, divers and snorkelers closely, sometimes interacting for extended periods. This project aims to improve management strategies to mitigate risks and threats to dwarf minke whales (a still undescribed subspecies) in Australian and adjacent waters as part of an individual, population and species-level risk assessment. It will assess ...