Southern Right Whale - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Eubalaena australis

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Endangered

Gazetted date: 04 May 2012

Profile last updated: 31 Mar 2023

Description

A large marine mammal up to 18 m long. It has a black body with white rough patches on the head and lower jaw to which whale lice and barnacles attach. Southern Right Whales lack a dorsal (back) fin and has two completely separate blowholes and a V shaped blow.

Distribution

Temperate and subpolar waters of the Southern Hemisphere, with a circumpolar distribution between about 20°S and 55°S with some records further south to 63°S.

Habitat and ecology

Migrate between summer feeding grounds in Antarctica and winter breeding grounds around the coasts of southern Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America.
They feed in the open ocean in summer.
They move inshore in winter for calving and mating. Calving females and females with young usually remain very close to the coast, paticularly in the 5-10 m watermark.
They feed on krill and copepods by filtering water through their baleen (plates of keratin that hang inside their upper-jaw).
It appears Southern Right Whales may not feed at all in Australian waters.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Ocean

Threats

Collision with boats and other marine traffic (e.g. shipping, cruise ships, fishing vessels) causing injury or mortality
Entanglement in fishing gear such as traps, ropes, and nets
Bioaccumulation of pollution and marine debris ingestion, particularly plastic, which can cause suffocation, abrasion, infection or blockages when swallowed.
Building or placing of infrastructure such as wharves or aquaculture equipment in the 5-10 m watermark of sheltered areas may impact upon females.
Disturbance (e.g. recreational boating, whale watching, jetskis, kayaks) disturbing the species, altering behaviour and displacing the species from habitat areas
Noise (e.g. offshore gas exploration, seismic testing, vessels, maintenance, dredging, pile driving, ports, ships, cruises) disturbing, displacing, or injuring the species
Lack of distributional information on habitat areas to enable effective management
Cumulative impact of threats on species and habitat.

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Boats should not approach within 300 m of any whale or within 400 m if in a jet ski.
Boats should avoid cutting in front of travelling whales.
Swimmers should not approach within 30 m of any whale.
Planes should not approach within 300 m of any whale. Helicopters 400 m.
Avoid discarding any debris at sea.
Avoid placement of infrastructure in the 5-10 m watermark zone in areas where females are known to frequent.
Protect coastal water quality.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Images

Illustration, Southern Right Whale
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Related information

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Nature conservation

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