Monitoring of Humpback Whales in the Pender Bay, Kimberley region, Western Australia - 2009 to 2012

Four years of independent and shore-based humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) surveys in the remote Kimberley region were collected. Systematic shore-based surveys were undertaken from 2009 to 2012 from the cliff top on the southern part of Pender Bay, Dampier Peninsula, Kimberley region, WA from the Two Moons Whale and Marine Research Base. The humpback whales use Pender Bay for a variety of purposes including calving, breeding, feeding (inferred), resting and staging.

This work was undertaken to provide much needed data on the humpback whale populations and behaviours at Pender Bay and its importance as a humpback whale breeding and calving ground. To engage with traditional owners and local community members and promote the sharing of information and knowledge.