Marine Megafauna

Whales and climate research program

This international research project establishes a fundamental understanding of how changing ocean conditions are influencing the recovery of humpback whale populations and develops adaptation scenarios for advancing whale conservation, policies and programs. Our work also lays the path for future research on other baleen species.

The research program runs under four major themes:

• whale ecology
• ocean processes
• marine geochemistry
• future climate.

Funding sources

Private philanthropic trust

Marine mammal monitoring SEQ

Many whale and dolphin species utilise South East Queensland waters. Monitoring their distribution, movement and habitat requirements over time is essential to detecting population changes and discovering new behaviours.

The centre works with Humpbacks and High-rises ( HHR ) a non-profit community organisation that’s conducted a long-term whale monitoring program since 2011 and training the community to participate in a standardised, systematic surveys of humpback whales off Queensland.

Boat and land-based surveys are also conducted each year throughout whale migration, gathering data on the date, time, location, species and number of marine mammals sighted, along with detailed behavioural information.

Funding sources

Humpbacks and High-rises

Newborn humpback whale study

This project investigates newborn humpback whale calves sighted on the Gold Coast. The research is focused on defining age classes, preferred fine-scale habitat use and interaction with vessels. The research also aims to determine the size, fitness and residence time of the calves.

Funding sources

Sea World Cruises

Fluke identification catalogue

Flukes, or whale tails, bear unique patterns that allow identification of individual animals and provide life history information.

This project creates a fluke database for humpback whales sighted on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast as part of the Humpbacks and High-rises citizen science program. With the help of artificial intelligence, large numbers of fluke images can be crosschecked with databases to provide instant matching results.

Funding sources

Humpbacks and High-rises

The future of the whale watching industry

Whale watching is major tourism industry, valued at over $2 billion worldwide. The industry is particularly important on the east coast of Australia, where one of the most popular species—the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)—migrates each year between their breeding and feeding grounds.

This project assesses the value and importance of the whale watching industry in a regional, national and global socio-economic context. Future impacts of climate change are addressed, with strategies developed to overcome future challenges. Research undertaken includes passenger surveys, stakeholder workshops and modelling.

Hammerhead shark movement in Queensland

Relatively little is known about the movement of great (Sphyrna mokarran) and scalloped (Sphyrna lewini) hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) in Queensland waters.

In partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Queensland Department of Fisheries, this project seeks to tag hammerhead sharks with satellite, acoustic and biologging tags to unveil their lives beneath the surface.

Funding sources

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast Council

Juvenile hammerhead movement study

Juvenile hammerhead sharks are pupped in estuarine waters, where they stay for several years before venturing into coastal waters.

This project utilises tagging and modelling technologies to determine critical habitats, behaviours and movement patterns. Results of the study will further support conservation and shark management policies.

Funding sources

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Cities Research Institute

Urban bull shark project

Bull sharks present through most of their lifecycles near urbanised coastlines, including estuarine and near-coastal habitats.

Pressures on bull shark populations include habitat destruction, modification to nursery areas and increased human-shark interactions.

Our urban bull shark project aims to study bull shark behavioral changes alongside increased human activity.

Funding sources

Queensland local and state governments, Cities Research Institute

Large shark movement SEQ

Southeast Queensland connects with the Pacific Ocean through a complex estuarine system, and is home to many coastal and pelagic shark species including hammerhead, white and tiger sharks.

This project uses various tracking technologies and partnerships to help understand how these sharks use the local areas.

Funding sources

Queensland local and state governments