Whales of the Whitsundays
A world-first – A Whale Heritage Site in a World Heritage Listed Area
The World Cetacean Alliance has formally designated the Whitsundays as a Whale Heritage Site following an active community program by Whales of the Whitsundays (WoW) which recognises the importance of our region for humpback whales to calve.
The Whitsundays is only the second such site to be designated in Australia and the first to be designated inside the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and the only site in the world to be in a UNESCO World Heritage Area.
As well as playing an active role on the steering committee for the Whitsunday Whale Heritage Site application through the Whales of the Whitsundays, the team at Coral Sea Marina has taken its support one step further by becoming a Platinum Sponsor for the program.
The World Cetacean Alliance strives for a world where cetaceans are free, oceans thrive, and communities care
By designating the Whitsundays as a Whale Heritage Site, the World Cetacean Alliance is further working towards their goal of empowering communities to protect, celebrate and respect cetaceans in the worldβs leading destinations for responsible whale and dolphin watching.
Whale Heritage Sites are incredibly vital to encouraging human-cetacean coexistence and the program promotes responsible whale watching, giving people the opportunity to enjoy these majestic creatures in their natural environment, knowing the negative impacts on animals are being minimised and mitigated.
How can you help?
The Whitsundays is a whale protection area with specific rules in place to protect these majestic giants. By following responsible boating practices, reporting sightings or incidents, and increasing knowledge of these creatures, you can play a significant role in their conservation.
Log sighting on the Eye on the Reef
Log all whale sightings on the Eye on the Reef app to help contribute to long-term protection and research.
Keep connected on socials
Want to hear more about the Whales of the Whitsundays? Keep connected by following their Facebook page.
Attend an event
The Whales of the Whitsundays host multiple events from community festivals to information seminars and more…
Get involved with acoustic monitoring
In collaboration with University Queensland, by using hydrophones, citizen scientists are encouraged to record underwater sound to help further research.
