Southern right whales swimming off the south-west Victorian beach will be migrating to the southern waters in a few months.

Two volunteers with the Sea Shepherd conservation group, who were among visitors at the whale viewing platform yesterday, said they felt proud to play a role in protecting the ocean giants.

“It’s awesome,”  said Sea Shepherd education co-ordinator Haans Siver and her assistant Rose Allan.

Last night at the Warrnambool Tourism Association’s annual general meeting they also praised the local community’s efforts in appreciating visiting whales.

“It’s really great the whale viewing platform was built because people can come down and see without hurting the environment,” Ms Siver said.

“I’d like to think that Sea Shepherd has had a role in so many whales being off Warrnambool now. It’s interesting to see them here, but down south whales are being slaughtered.

“Looking at this makes me realise how important our role is.”

The organisation has been embroiled in controversy in recent years over confrontational tactics used to stop Japanese whaling ships shooting prey or refuelling.

But according to Ms Siver there’s been a slight change of tact since former Greens leader Dr Bob Brown came on board as a director.

“We are trying to get a more positive message out,”  she said.

“Everything we do is legal under international law.

“Last year we saved 932 whales through our campaign in the Antarctic Southern Ocean.”

Part of Ms Siver’s role is to speak to schools and communities about anti-whaling and conservation.

“We show them how they can help simply by recycling and not throwing rubbish on the ground,” she said.

“The next big focus is likely to be on sharks because if the Japanese stop whaling they’ll go for sharks.” 

Ms Siver is a former Melbourne nightclub owner who works as a private investigator when not volunteering for conservation organisations.

She’s also a member of Animal Liberation Victoria and was once arrested on a chicken shed roof during a protest.