Whales and dolphins

Whales and dolphins are protected by state law in South Australia. Before you go whale or dolphin watching, there are a few things you need to know.

This page will help you:

• Understand how to safely view whales and dolphins
• Learn more about protection measures

Viewing whales and dolphins

Respecting marine mammals and maintaining appropriate distance helps keep you and the animal safe.

Remember to:

• Always keep at least 100 m away from a whale or 50 m from a dolphin
• Keep at least 300 m away from whales within Whale Nursery Protection Areas
• Adhere to special restrictions when a whale or dolphin calf is present

Never feed or harass marine mammals, it is illegal and harms the animal.

Find out more about safely viewing marine mammals.

Whale nursery protection areas 

Whale Nursery Protection Areas are designated areas that provide increased protection for whales that come close to shore to raise their young.

There are 3 Whale Nursery Protection Areas in South Australia:

• Encounter Bay
• Sleaford Bay
• Fowlers Bay

Additional protections in these areas aim to reduce disturbance during critical times while whales are resting, mating, calving or feeding their young.

Find out more about South Australia’s Whale Nursery Protection Areas.

Reporting distressed or deceased whales and dolphins 

Finding a distressed or deceased whale or dolphin can be a confronting experience.

For more information and what to do, visit the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia website.