Whale watchers are rousing after the first sighting in Portland on the weekend.
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The southern right whale was captured on film by veteran whale enthusiast Bob McPherson.
“It was late morning on Sunday. I was just 20 metres off the Lee Breakwater,” he said.
Mr McPherson said he believed this was the first 2018 sighting.
“I’ve been helping keep a database of the whales for years, “ he said. “And I’m fairly sure this is the first southern right whale seen in the area this season.”
The sighting was confirmed by department of environment, land, water and planning (DELWP) senior biodiversity officer Mandy Watson on Monday afternoon.
“We have confirmed sightings of a southern right whale that appeared off the coast of Portland on Saturday and Sunday,” she said.
“It appears to be a juvenile whale, in images captured by local whale photographers.
“This marks the start of what we’re hoping will be a good breeding season for these giant mammals that are critically endangered in Victorian waters.”
Ms Watson said the previous season had been note-worthy.
“Last year was a record season, with female southern right whales delivering seven new calves in the sheltered waters around Warrnambool.
“While we’re hopeful that last year’s results are part of a longer-term trend, numbers do fluctuate from season to season, and the evidence suggests this population is not increasing.
Familiar faces are expected this year Ms Watson said.
“As female southern right whales generally calve every three years, we are expecting two well-known whales, Big Coaming and Tripod, to return this year to calve.
“The last time they visited our shores with calves was back in 2015.”
With increased sightings expected, Ms Watson warned new technology would assist with research.
“It’s now an exciting time for whale watchers, as they keep a close watch on the coast and particularly the whale nursery area at Logans Beach in Warrnambool.
“Every year, DELWP records confirmed sightings of southern right whales, to gain a better understanding of population dynamics, and to help guide the management of this species.
“This season will again see researchers use drones to identify whales around Warrnambool.
“It follows the successful use of drone technology last season, which identified 12 new whales.
“DELWP will also be enlisting the help of local wildlife photographers, providing them with training in capturing photographs that can help researchers identify whales.”
Warrnambool veteran whale enthusiast Peter Read said he had begun his regular watching.
“I’ve been out for two hours each day,” he said.
“This is the season they’ll start to migrate but as yet I haven’t seen anything in Warrnambool other than seals and birds.”
Mr Read said he’d been keeping an eye on Warrnambool’s whales for over 16 years.
“I give them names and I’ll stay at the platform for a couple of hours each day hoping to see them,” he said.
The southern right whales are expected to stay in Warrnambool for up to 100 days.
Whale watchers are reminded to keep their distance if out in a boat or jetski, with minimum approach distances in place for vessels being operated around whales.
To avoid disturbing mothers and calves, boating activity is not permitted within the Logans Beach boating exclusion zone from June 1 to October 31.