The 2010 Norfolk Island Whale Survey found that the humpback whale population migrating past Norfolk Island had not recovered to pre-whaling levels, despite whaling ending in the region in 1962. Over multiple years of research, the Survey has documented several whale species in the area but observed recovery rates for humpback whales passing Norfolk Island have been much lower than along the east coast of Australia. The Survey will continue monitoring whale migration in the region to understand why recovery has been slower than in other areas.

1. 2010 Norfolk Island Whale Survey© A. Oosterman 2010

2. Our goal ...In the long term, we expect the findings of the Norfolk Island Whale Survey (NIWS) will contribute to the building of a useful dataset that will complement the humpback whale research that is being conducted in other regions of the South Pacific …... especially along the migratory corridor that encompasses New Caledonia and New Zealand. To maintain the link between the latter two locations it is vital that the migration of humpback whales past Norfolk Island (NI) continues to be monitored.© Norfolk Island Whale Survey

3. Preamble Like Byron Bay on Australia’s east coast, Norfolk Island (on approximately the same latitude) had a history of commercial whaling until the early 1960s.

4. During the period from 1956 until the commencement of the NIWS in 2003 no whale research occurred on NI. In recent years, cetacean research has increased significantly throughout the SW Pacific .

5. Results of survey work we were involved with which had been conducted at Cape Byron over many years suggested that humpback whales migrating along that corridor were recovering at a rate of approximately 10% per annum.

6. Only a few years of research by the NIWS including information gathered from the people of NI, revealed that a significant recovery rate of humpbacks migrating past NI (E2 stock) was clearly not occurring.

7. As dedicated experienced researchers were active both on NI and the east coast of Australia the results were not called into question.

8. Furthermore, researchers were also on a fact finding mission in Fiji in 2004. The latter area also showed a lack of recovery to humpback whale numbers.

9. Since the commencement of the NIWS, a survey was carried out in New Zealand’s Cook Straits (where the Perano Brothers and others undertook commercial whaling ventures). This produced similar results to those of NI and Fiji.© Norfolk Island Whale Survey

10. Conclusions It is undeniable that the numbers of humpback whales migrating past NI (as with those that migrate along some other SW Pacific corridors) have not recovered to anywhere near the numbers that existed in pre-whaling days.

11. As whaling ceased on Australia’s east coast and NI in 1962, humpback whales have had nearly half a century to recover at NI.

12. This begs the question ...Will humpback whales ever be seen migrating past NI in the numbers that they were prior to the cessation of whaling activities in that region and by the Soviet Whaling fleets in the Southern Ocean?© Norfolk Island Whale Survey

13. Location of Key Observation PlatformsCASCADE LOOKOUTQ. ELIZABETH II© Norfolk Island Whale Survey