Star of the South taking to the sky to spot whales
30 March 2023
Learning more about the movements of whales, including the pygmy blue whale, is the focus of a five-month aerial survey by Australia’s most advanced offshore wind project, Star of the South.
The study will collect information with twice monthly flyovers of Bass Strait until the end of August, covering distances of around 1,150km in the study area.
The aerial surveys will focus on spotting marine mammals – noting the species, their location and behaviour. The plane can fly as low as 300 m and a trained and experienced marine mammal observer will identify the animals.
The pygmy blue whale is challenging to study as it can swim underwater for up to 90 minutes while moving great distances. This makes aerial surveys one of the best ways to study the species.
Star of the South Chief Development Officer Erin Coldham said the area around Tasmania and Gippsland is identified as a possible foraging area, but it’s uncommon to see pygmy blue whales.
“We know these whales frequent the area between Phillip Island and past Adelaide, and in waters off Western Australia – but with limited research done in this area, we don’t really know much about their movements.
This study will help us better understand if they’re in Gippsland waters, and whether they're feeding, breeding or socialising.”
Leading the research is RPS and Blue Whale Study, which has conducted ecological whale research in southern Australia for 20 years.
Findings will be made available in early 2024.
These investigations are co-funded with the Victorian Government through the Energy Innovation Fund.
About Star of the South
Star of the South is Australia’s most advanced offshore wind project, proposed to be located off the Wellington coast of Gippsland in Victoria. Star of the South would help meet energy, emissions reduction, and economic goals by supplying secure, reliable and affordable power for up to 1.2 million homes and continuing energy jobs in Gippsland for decades to come. The project is in the feasibility phase with environmental assessments currently underway to inform project planning and approvals. If Star of the South is approved and proceeds to construction, works could start around the middle of this decade with first power around the end of the decade.