Noad et al., 2006:

"The humpback whales that migrate along the east coast of Australia were hunted to near-extinction in the 1950s and early 1960s. Two independent series of land-based surveys conducted over the last 25 years during the whales’ northward migration along the Australian coastline have demonstrated a rapid increase in the size of the population." In 2004, Noad et al. (2006) conducted a survey of the migratory population as a continuation of these series of surveys. Two methods of data analysis were used in line with the previous surveys, both for calculation of absolute and relative abundance. Noad et al. (2006) considered the best estimates for 2004 to be 7,090 ± 660 (95% CI) whales with an annual rate of increase of 10.6 ± 0.5% (95% CI) for 1987 – 2004. The rate of increase agrees with those previously obtained for this population and demonstrates the continuation of a strong post-exploitation recovery. While there are still some uncertainties concerning the absolute abundance estimate and structure of this population, the rate of annual increase should be independent of these and highly robust. 

Noad et al. (2006) reported that surveys here have been conducted by two independent teams, the first headed by M. Bryden and then by M. Brown (Bryden, 1985; Bryden and Slade, 1988; Bryden et al., 1990, 1996; Brown, 1998; Brown et al., 2003), hereafter known as the ‘BB’ (Bryden/Brown) surveys. The other series of surveys were by R. Paterson, P. Paterson and one of the current authors, DC (Paterson & Paterson, 1984, 1989; Paterson et al., 1994, 2001, 2004), hereafter referred to as the ‘PC’ (Paterson/Cato) surveys. While both series of surveys were conducted at Pt Lookout, the BB surveys observed from a headland approximately 32m above sea level while the PC surveys were conducted from a 65m high hill approximately 300m inland from the headland. Despite some differences in survey site, survey design and data analysis, both series of surveys have been in broad agreement concerning the number of migratory whales and their rate of increase."

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Citation and/or URL

Noad, M.J., Paton, D. and Cato, D.H. 2006, Absolute and relative abundance estimates of Australian east coast humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Paper submitted to the International Whaling Commission Sub-Committee for the Assessment of Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales, Hobart, April 2006, SC/A06/HW27.  

Spatial Coverage

North Stradbroke Island, Queensland

Temporal Coverage

Survey conducted in 2004 (data between 1984 - 2004 provided) 

Update Frequency

Not applicable 

Other Information

None