Whale Nursery Protection Areas
This page provides information for the general public about the proposal to establish two new Whale Nursery Protection Areas in South Australia's waters.
This page will help you understand:
- what is being proposed
- why it is being proposed and
- where to go for more information
The proposal
The Department for Environment and Water is proposing to create two new Whale Nursery Protection Areas under the National Parks and Wildlife (Protected Animals) Marine Mammals Regulations 2010.
The current 300 metre approach distance in the Encounter Bay Restricted Area will not change, although this area is proposed to be renamed the ‘Encounter Bay Whale Nursery Protection Area’.
The two new Whale Nursery Protection Areas are proposed for:
- Fowlers Bay and
- Sleaford Bay
If approved, the approach limits to a whale within these sensitive nursery areas for vessels specifically viewing marine mammals would be increased from the current distance of 100 metres to 300 metres to minimise disturbance.
It is already a requirement that a vessel viewing a whale with a calf must remain 300 metres away in all state and commonwealth waters.
The introduction of the Whale Nursery Protection Areas will not prevent boat-based whale watching, vessel access to these waters or vessels travelling through these areas.
The rationale
Encounter Bay, Fowlers Bay and Sleaford Bay have been identified as important areas for Southern Right Whales by both an independent scientific review and the National Recovery Plan for the Southern Right Whale (2024). The Recovery Plan highlights that minimising disturbance in nursery areas is essential to support Southern Right Whale recovery.
The introduction of the Sleaford Bay and Fowlers Bay Whale Nursery Protection Areas ensures consistent protection measures for all the key gathering sites of Southern Right Whales in South Australian waters, aligning with existing protections already established at Encounter Bay.
Renaming and introducing these nursery areas in South Australia offers a valuable opportunity to highlight their importance in the recovery of the Southern Right Whale.
The establishment of these areas is also furthering the government’s election commitment to 'explore establishing Whale Nursery Protection Areas where whales come close to shore with their young'.
More information
- A visual guide is available which provides simplified background information about the proposed Whale Nursery Protection Areas.
- Maps of the proposed Whale Nursery Protection Areas are also available.
If you would like any further information about this proposal, please e-mail: DEW.Threatened_Species@sa.gov.au
