From Whaling to Whale-Watching… 56 years of conservation has removed Humpback Whales off Australia’s endangered list.
Australia (03 March 2022) – The last 56 years have changed the course of history for Humpback Whales in Australia, and after almost six decades of dedicated marine conservation, the incredible species has been brought back from the brink of extinction.
Like other large whales, the humpback was a target for the whaling industry.
Humpback whales were hunted as early as the 18th century. By the 19th century, many nations were hunting the animal heavily in the Atlantic Ocean and to a lesser extent in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The late-19th-century introduction of the explosive harpoon allowed whalers to accelerate their take. This, along with hunting in the Antarctic Ocean beginning in 1904, sharply reduced whale populations.
During the 20th century, over 200,000 humpbacks were taken, reducing the global population by over 90%. North Atlantic populations dropped to as low as 700 individuals.
In 1946, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) was founded to oversee the industry. They imposed hunting regulations and created hunting seasons. To prevent extinction, IWC banned commercial humpback whaling in 1966. By then, the global population had been reduced to around 5,000. The ban has remained in force since 1966.
“At the height of the global whaling industry, there were as few as 1,500 humpback whales in Australian waters… today that population is believed to be as many as 40,000 individuals and growing,” said Australia’s environment minister Sussan Ley.
This incredible feat has led the marine mammal to be removed from the Australian threatened species list. However, the Aus government says measures will still remain in place to protect them as “the Humpback Whales will remain a matter of national environmental significance”.
“This is not about removing safeguards for humpbacks, which are still a protected migratory species, but it is a recognition of the success of the outstanding conservation efforts that are in place,” Minister Ley said.
“Our removal of the humpback from the threatened species list is based on science and sends a clear signal about what can be achieved through coordinated action. It is a message of hope for the welfare of a number of species.”
This is incredible news for conservation and shows that together we can turn the tide for any animal facing extinction.
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