Australian Marine Mammal Centre

Southern Right Whales

The Australian Marine Mammal Centre was established as the first national research centre focused on understanding, protecting and conserving the whales, dolphins, seals and dugongs in our region.

The Centre coordinates Australia’s marine mammal research expertise to provide scientific research and advice to underpin Australia’s marine mammal conservation and policy initiatives.

Based in Hobart within the Southern Ocean Ecosystems program at the Australian Antarctic Division, the Australian Marine Mammal Centre supports an extensive research community throughout Australia, representing over 20 institutions.

Whale trackers make rare sighting

27 February 2012
Whale observers working for the Australian Antarctic Division hit the jackpot recently sighting the Shepherd's beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi).  Details can be found here.   

Scientists capture footage of rare whale
A stroke of good luck has given a team of Tasmanian scientists an encounter with a pod of extremely rare whales.

Surveying dugong responses to extreme weather events
More than $417 000 in funding for non-lethal marine mammal research was announced by the Australian Government in June.  A $175 000 Indo-Pacific Cetacean Research and Conservation Fund (IPCF) will support three three-year projects in Papua New Guinea, Palau and Thailand, while a $147 000 Bill Dawbin Post-doctoral Fellowship was awarded to Dr Isabel Beasley of James Cook University to study Australian snubfin dolphins and Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in northern Australia.  More than $95 000 will also assist an aerial survey of dugongs off the Queensland coast, after widespread habitat loss from the 2011 floods and Cyclone Yasi.  Detailed information can be found on this page.  

Japanese decision to continue whaling
Joint media release Melbourne 4 October 2011 - The Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General and the Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

$5 million to support better management of dugongs
Minister Burke's media release 8 September 2011 - $5 million to support better management of dugongs

Australia's delegation to attend international whaling meeting
11 July 2011 Minister Burke's media release - Australia's delegation to attend international whaling meeting