The discovery of the Great Barrier Reef’s whale maternity ward
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It started with a simple message: “This is the year to do something small for something huge.” Now, 17 years later, the Whitsundays region has some of the best protection in the world for migrating humpback whales.
Sightings of unusual humpback whale behavior began to mount in 2009 as tourism operators in the Whitsundays reported observations of ‘fluking’ to the Reef Authority’s Eye on the Reef network. Perplexed by what they were seeing, they reached out to scientists to understand the behavior.
What followed was a major research effort that ultimately led to the discovery of a globally important whale calving area in the Whitsundays.
Master Reef Guides Program Manager Crystal Lacey said the operators were reporting sightings of a behavior known as ‘fluking,’ in which whales float upside down with their tails raised above the water’s surface.
“It was an unusual behavior they had never seen before. Not even the whale scientists knew what it meant at the time. So that uncertainty sparked a major research effort, which combined citizen science through the tourism operators’ observations and scientific research.
“It was one of the region’s largest citizen science efforts, recording whale sightings and calves through Eye on the Reef. Just in that one year, there were 780 adults and 153 calves sighted in the Whitsundays.”
While tourism operators counted whales and calves, scientists mapped the seafloor, monitored water temperatures, tracked whales by satellite and surveyed the region from the air. Together, they gathered evidence that revealed the Whitsundays as one of the Great Barrier Reef’s most important humpback whale calving areas.
“The fluking the operators observed was actually a breeding behavior.
“We discovered the Whitsundays provide the sheltered, warm and shallow waters humpback whales need to give birth and raise newborn calves.”
The breakthrough solved one of the biggest mysteries surrounding humpback whales on the Great Barrier Reef—where they give birth. The discovery subsequently led to the establishment of the Whitsundays Whale Protection Area, where cetaceans are given higher levels of protection than in any other area of the Marine Park.
The Whale Protection Area strengthens the region’s plan of management by setting rules for how people interact with whales. These include minimum approach distances for vessels and aircraft and a ban on swimming with whales. Breaches of these regulations are enforceable by law.
As well as helping establish the Whale Protection Area, tourism operators played a major role in the region achieving a Whale Heritage Area designation in 2024. Together with Whitsunday community members, tourism operators nominated the region to become recognized as a Whale Heritage Area, making it the only place in the world with a Whale Heritage Area inside a UNESCO World Heritage Area.
Lacey said the designation, awarded by the World Cetacean Alliance, recognizes destinations that protect whales through responsible tourism, community education and conservation.
“Because of the tourism industry’s strong partnerships with management agencies and Traditional Owners in the Whitsundays, the region was able to satisfy the requirements to achieve Whale Heritage Area status. It was a really exciting time to be recognized among the world’s best.
“Tourism operators, community members and volunteers continue to show why the Whitsundays is one of the world’s best-managed whale habitats.
“Operators are working alongside Traditional Owners to help visitors experience whales responsibly. They are also active participants in industry briefing sessions and knowledge-sharing ahead of each whale season.”
Lacey said visitors can help keep whales safe in the Marine Park by keeping a safe distance from whales and following whale-watching rules.
“It’s important that visitors to the Great Barrier Reef are responsible around whales this season, and that includes maintaining respectful distances and minimizing disturbances to reduce the risk of unsafe interactions with whales.”
Marine Park regulations include:
- Maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters (328 feet) from whales in general Marine Park waters.
- A 300-meter (984-foot) exclusion zone applies around whale calves and within the Whitsunday Whale Protection Area.
- Jet skis must remain at least 300 meters (984 feet) away from whales.
- Do not swim toward or disturb whales.
- No aircraft or drones are allowed below 1,000 feet (305 meters).
Report whale sightings via the Eye on the Reef network. To report sick, injured, stranded or dead whales, contact the Queensland Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation using the free QWildlife app.
More information
The Reef Authority has produced a video explaining the whale protection rules.
Provided by
Australian Government Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
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The discovery of the Great Barrier Reef’s whale maternity ward (2026, August 28)
retrieved 28 August 2026
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