Protection for whale species as numbers rise
Marine researchers on the New South Wales far south coast have welcomed the State Government's protection of a whale species.
There are currently around 15 breeding female Southern Right Whales found in State waters.
The species was listed as endangered last week, in a move that has been supported by the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre at Eden.
The Centre's Jenny Robb says it is a positive step forward, but the mammal is already increasing in numbers.
"It is estimated that they are increasing by number at a rate of eight percent per year," she said.
"These were the whales that were targeted when whaling was still happening, and they were depleted to such a small number that it's taken some time for them to recover."
She says adding the whales to the list is helpful, but awareness is critical.
"There are protection measures in place at the moment, so in a way that doesn't actually change," she said.
"What we are hoping to do through avenues like the Eden Whale Festival and our own programs, is to increase the education of the public about this particular species of whale and its vulnerability."
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