Decadal Shifts in Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) Recovery in South Australian Waters: Implications for Conservation and Management

Bridgette O'Shannessy; Luciana Moller; Robert D. McCauley; Guido J. Parra; Joshua N. Smith; Stephen Burnell; Claire M. Charlton

doi:10.1111/mms.70045

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Decadal Shifts in Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) Recovery in South Australian Waters: Implications for Conservation and Management

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Decadal Shifts in Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) Recovery in South Australian Waters: Implications for Conservation and Management

Bridgette O'Shannessy, Luciana Moller, Robert D. McCauley, Guido J. Parra, Joshua N. Smith, Stephen Burnell and Claire M. Charlton

Marine mammal science, Early View

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.70045

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Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Marine & Freshwater Biology

Science & Technology

Zoology

Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) have shown population recovery since protection from commercial whaling and are considered a flagship species for successful conservation management. However, recovery remains incomplete, with recent evidence suggesting slowed growth and variability in reproductive success. This project used 30 years of count data in Australia (1992-2022) to investigate long-term trends in relative abundance at three key reproductive areas in South Australia. Varied rates of increase were observed, while recovery trends have moderated at the major aggregation area of Head of Bight (3.34%/year, 95% CI: 2.24, 4.44); higher growth rates were observed at Fowlers Bay, where recolonization has occurred (15.29%/year, 95% CI: 7.54, 24.33). Results support that recovery trends for the Australian population are dynamic and variable across decades. Drivers of variability may include saturation of certain areas, reoccupation of suitable habitats, spatio-temporal disturbance, and changes to factors driving migration, including body condition, prey availability, and climate change. Decadal shifts in relative abundance indicate an expanding habitat range, highlighting the importance of suitable habitat and connective migration corridors, which are increasingly important during critical life stages. Adaptive conservation management and effective threat mitigation are essential to secure recovery of this threatened species in Australia.

Details

Title: Decadal Shifts in Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) Recovery in South Australian Waters: Implications for Conservation and Management
Authors/Creators: Bridgette O'Shannessy - Flinders University
Luciana Moller - Flinders University
Robert D. McCauley - Curtin University
Guido J. Parra - Flinders University
Joshua N. Smith - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Stephen Burnell - Oceans Institute
Claire M. Charlton - Curtin University
Publication Details: Marine mammal science, Early View
Publisher: Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society for Marine Mammalogy.
Number of pages: 14
Grant note: Current Environmental Minderoo Foundation Flinders Univeristy Curtin University's Centre for Marine Science and Technology
Identifiers: 991005795472407891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology; 3.35.796 Marine Mammal Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology; Zoology
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science