Project monitors Cape Byron dolphins

A research project investigating the ecology and monitoring the impacts of human interactions on the dolphin population in the Cape Byron Marine Park began on Sunday.

The Dolphin Ecology and Acoustics Project is being run by Dr Liz Hawkins, from the Southern Cross University Whale Research Centre, with support from staff from the Cape Byron Marine Park. The research is a continuation of work Dr Hawkins began in 2003.

“We are looking at the critical habitat of the dolphins directly around Cape Byron. We want to look at the population, find out what the health of the dolphins is like and look at social behaviour,” Dr Hawkins said.

“There are between 800 and 1200 dolphins that use the area between Brunswick Heads and Ballina,” Dr Hawkins said.

“Many of these dolphins are transients, but there are some that are resident throughout the year, including a group of females who live around Cape Byron. These resident females are the most vulnerable dolphins in the population as they are living in a zone where there is the chance of high levels of human interactions so we need to monitor them closely to ensure their protection.”

The area around Wategos Beach and Cape Byron is a critical habitat zone for the dolphins as it is a major resting area for females.

“When they rest, usually from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, the dolphins will float on the surface or the seafloor. In Byron Bay, they can rest for a number of hours. This is an important part of their daily life, particularly for females with calves who have very sensitive energy budgets,” Dr Hawkins said.

“We know now that dolphins are a lot more sensitive to interactions with humans than we previously realised. Human interaction can impact on critical behaviours such as resting or feeding and in the long-term these interactions can cause changes to the use of critical habitat and energy budgets of dolphins. It is therefore very important that we continue to monitor and assess the health of our local populations of dolphins here in Byron Bay.”

Around 20 volunteers will be involved in the project at sea and on land, monitoring the behaviour and recording the acoustics of dolphins. These observations will also help to understand the ecology of coastal dolphins.

The first field season has already begun and ends on October 4. Another field season is to be undertaken from around January 6 to February 6, 2010.

“We are working closely with the Cape Byron Marine Park and the commercial operators. By working together, we can ensure the ongoing protection of the dolphin population,” Dr Hawkins said.

Cape Byron Marine Park manager Andrew Page welcomed the research project and said there would be a lot of interest in the results.

“There’s still so much to be learned about these captivating marine animals. We’re pleased that the marine park can once again play an important role in the long-term conservation and protection of dolphins,” Mr Page said.

Photo: A new project will investigate the impact of human interactions on dolphins in the Cape Byron Marine Park.