Increasing boat strikes threaten Australia's booming humpback whale population

WWF Australia has released graphic photographs of humpback whales along Australia's east coast bearing propeller-induced slash marks, missing fluke pieces and severe spinal cuts, some on calves. Senior naturalist Isabel Taylor observed a mother-calf pair in Hervey Bay displaying fresh propeller wounds, contrasting with other groups putting on a show for tourists. Researchers note that whales tend to surface directly under passing propellers, limiting their ability to alter dive patterns in time.

The population, once under 300 in the 1960s, has surged to an estimated 40,000-50,000 individuals, coinciding with a boom in boat licences and registrations. The International Whaling Commission, recognizing the growing threat, passed a resolution to prioritize reduction of vessel strikes. Scientists recommend speed limits and better awareness of high-risk migration corridors to protect the whales.