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Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis)

The Southern Right Whale is a baleen whale that migrates between high-latitude feeding grounds and warmer coastal waters where it breeds and calves. In Australia, it occurs along the southern coast and around Tasmania, using coastal waters, bays and estuaries that may be relevant to marine and coastal works.

Conservation status

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Endangered.

New South Wales, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Endangered.

Victoria, Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988: Endangered.

South Australia, National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972: Vulnerable.

Western Australia, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016: Vulnerable.

Tasmania, Threatened Species Protection Act 1995: Endangered.

Commonwealth, EPBC Act 1999: Listed migratory. Listed migratory species are a matter of national environmental significance, so a significant impact needs referral.

Seasonal planning

Regularly present on the Australian coast from about mid-May to mid-November.

Seasonal evidence: From published sources for this species.

Timing varies between sites and years.

  • Australian coastal presence: Regularly present on the Australian coast from about mid-May to mid-November.

Identification: Appearance

This stocky, dark whale has a very large head, no dorsal fin and distinctive white or grey callosities on its head. Its V-shaped blow can be visible at a distance, and adults can reach about 17 metres long.

This stocky, dark whale has a very large head, no dorsal fin and distinctive white or grey callosities on its head. Its V-shaped blow can be visible at a distance, and adults can reach about 17 metres long.

Identification: Confirming identity

Confirm the identity of any suspected record with a specialist and a photograph or voucher, as required by the relevant permit.

Distribution: Known range

In Australia, Southern Right Whales occur along the southern mainland coast and around Tasmania, with most sightings between Albany in Western Australia and the Head of Bight in South Australia. They are also occasionally sighted as far north as Hervey Bay in Queensland.

In Australia, Southern Right Whales occur along the southern mainland coast and around Tasmania, with most sightings between Albany in Western Australia and the Head of Bight in South Australia. They are also occasionally sighted as far north as Hervey Bay in Queensland.

Distribution: National mapping

The Commonwealth species distribution model (SNES) maps where the species or its habitat is known, likely or may occur. Use it with local records and site inspection.

Habitat: Habitat

The species uses nearshore coastal waters for breeding and calving, and may be seen in shallow water, bays, estuaries and even the surf zone. Its feeding habitat is thought to include deeper, productive waters of the Southern Ocean.

The species uses nearshore coastal waters for breeding and calving, and may be seen in shallow water, bays, estuaries and even the surf zone. Its feeding habitat is thought to include deeper, productive waters of the Southern Ocean.

Foraging habitat: Diet

Southern Right Whales feed mainly on krill and copepods, which they filter from the water using baleen. They feed in high-latitude waters during the austral summer.

Southern Right Whales feed mainly on krill and copepods, which they filter from the water using baleen. They feed in high-latitude waters during the austral summer.

Breeding habitat: Breeding

The whales migrate to warmer coastal waters in winter to breed and give birth. Pregnancy lasts about 11 to 12 months, and females give birth to a single calf.

The whales migrate to warmer coastal waters in winter to breed and give birth. Pregnancy lasts about 11 to 12 months, and females give birth to a single calf.

Sheltering habitat: Shelter

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Not documented in the published sources used for this profile.

Threats: Threats

Vessel collisions and disturbance, entanglement in fishing gear, pollution and coastal industrial activity are identified as threats to Southern Right Whales.

Vessel collisions and disturbance, entanglement in fishing gear, pollution and coastal industrial activity are identified as threats to Southern Right Whales.

Threats: Works risk

Vessel activity can disturb whales and create a risk of collisions. Coastal industrial activity and pollution may also affect them, while fishing gear can cause entanglement.

Survey methodology: 1. Species-specific methods

Use methods consistent with the Commonwealth survey guidelines and engage a specialist with the right permits.

Researchers can identify individual whales from the distinctive patterns of callosities on their heads.

Survey methodology: 2. Commonwealth guidance

For EPBC Act referrals, survey effort and methods should be consistent with the ePBC Act publications, including the National Guidelines for the Survey of Cetaceans, Marine Turtles and the Dugong (2024), read with the Significant impact guidelines 1.1.

Survey methodology: 3. Limits

A non-detection is not proof of absence. Match survey timing to the species and season, and record effort.

Vegetation associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific vegetation association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Ecosystem associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific ecosystem association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Soil and substrate associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific soil association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Water and wetland associations

Source-checked associations and automatically indexed candidates are separated below. An association does not establish site presence, preference or dependence.

No species-specific water association has been indexed or source-checked in this evidence library. This is an evidence gap, not evidence of no association.

Fauna records and mapped habitat: Not yet analysed

Record locations can be overlaid with mapping, but record frequency alone does not measure habitat preference. No species is excluded from desktop assessments by this analysis.

No quality-controlled record-to-map analysis has been completed for this species. The existing generalised distribution dots and indicative range polygons have not been treated as precise occurrence coordinates.

A defensible run needs dated, independently attributable records, coordinate uncertainty, duplicate and captive-record checks, layer versions and regional scope. Preference and absence require additional survey-effort and detection evidence.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: No supported exclusion recorded

Not recorded is not the same as cannot occur. Low suitability, resident habitat, breeding habitat and occasional movement are different conclusions.

This library has not established a vegetation, ecosystem or soil-type exclusion for this species. This does not mean all habitat is suitable; the evidence needed to justify an exclusion has not been assembled.

Habitat limitations and contrary evidence: Before using a negative association

  • Confirm the taxon, geographic region, life stage and habitat function covered by the evidence.
  • Check survey methods, season, repeated effort and detectability before interpreting non-detection.
  • Investigate credible contradictory records and microhabitats absent from broad mapping.
  • Do not convert a missing map class, low record count or failed data request into species absence.

Before disturbance: 1. Desktop and approvals

Confirm whether the project could affect the species before works begin.

Check national mapping, state records and recent surveys for the site. An action likely to have a significant impact on this nationally listed species needs EPBC Act referral, and state permits apply where it is state listed.

Before disturbance: 2. Plan to avoid

Plan in-water works, vessel movements and lighting to avoid known habitat and sensitive periods, and set observer and shutdown procedures before works start.

During disturbance: 1. Controls

Keep works inside the approved footprint and conditions.

Use spotters and exclusion zones for in-water works and vessels, and pause works if the species is seen within the zone.

During disturbance: 2. Stop and report

If the species is found unexpectedly, stop work at that spot and contact the project ecologist and the relevant agency.

After disturbance: 1. Records

Record outcomes.

Record sightings, habitat lost or retained and any injury or death, and report them under the approval conditions.

Rehabilitation: 1. Restore

Restore disturbed habitat where possible.

Remove temporary structures, restore natural flow and substrate, and monitor water quality until it returns to baseline.

Sources