Parra et al., 2006:

"Snubfin and humpback dolphins occurred mostly in waters less than 15 m deep that were within 10 km of the coast and 20 km from the nearest river mouth. This result conforms with reviews of the distribution of both species along the Queensland coast (Corkeron et al. 1997,  Parra et al. 2002, 2004) and throughout their range (Stacey and Arnold 1999, Jefferson and Karczmarski 2001).

Cetacean distributions are generally determined by physical oceanographic and hydrographic features, and the effects of these features on prey distributions (Jaquet and Whitehead 1996, Davis et al. 1998, 2002,  Jaquet and Gendron 2002, Benson et al. 2002). Nutrient input from rivers, the export of organic litter from mangrove forests, and the stratification and circulation patterns created in shallow coastal waters  enhance productivity in tropical coastal areas, creating important nursery areas for fish (Robertson and  Duke 1987, Hobbie 2000).

Parra et al. (2006) showed that the environmental variables measured in their study, and their potential effect on prey distribution and availability, had a major influence on the spatial  distribution of snubfin and humpback dolphins in the study area. Snubfin dolphins were sighted in all 3 bays of the study area, but most of the  sightings occurred around Bathurst Head in Princess Charlotte Bay (Fig. 1). Humpback dolphins were seen in Princess Charlotte Bay only in the vicinity of Bathurst Head, and around the west side of the Flinders Group Islands. Most of the sightings of both species occurred in waters less than 5 km from land, 20km from the nearest river mouth, and in waters less than 15m deep (Fig. 2).

The results also revealed concerns related to the 2004 rezoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, particularly within the study areas. The current zoning plan for the Far Northern Section delineates a large area of Princess Charlotte Bay into a Marine National Park Zone, where gillnetting is banned. However, the remainder of Princess Charlotte Bay (Fig. 1) is currently zoned as 3 different Special Management Areas. Commercial gillnetting (except for offshore set nets) is allowed in these Special Management Areas, subject to a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority permit. However, Bathurst Bay and most of Ninian Bay (Fig. 1) are zoned as Conservation Park Zones where netting activities are prohibited.

The current boundaries of the Marine National Park Zone in Princess Charlotte Bay provide limited protection to snubfin, humpback dolphins, and other coastal species (e.g. dugongs, Dugong dugon) as the MNPZ is situated mainly in offshore waters. Waters around the western side of Bathurst Head, zoned as a Special Management  Area, appear to be a hotspot for aggregations of snubfin and humpback dolphins (Fig. 1)."
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Citation and/or URL

Parra, G.J., Schick, R. and Corkeron, P.J. (2006). Spatial distribution and environmental correlates of Australian snubfin and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Ecography 20: 1-11.

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Spatial Coverage

Princess Charlotte Bay, Bathurst Bay and Ninian Bay, Norther Great Barrier Reef.

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Temporal Coverage

October 2001

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Update Frequency

Not applicable 

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Other Information

None