Consulting

Blue Whale Study’s strengths lie in its comprehensive and multi-disciplinary expertise on cetaceans and marine habitats of the Southern Ocean region, and its ability to work across varying industry and government sectors.  Our specialist expertise encompasses:

  • aerial and boat-based cetacean surveys – design, implementation, reporting and interpretation

  • mitigation programs to reduce impacts on marine mammals,

  • ecological advice to inform Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and other planning instruments

  • long-term marine mammal monitoring programs contributing to the conservation status and abundance estimates on cetacean populations in southern Australia

Blue Whale Study’s professionalism and expertise ensure our clients receive the rigour, detail and analytical capacity needed to address complex and time-driven issues.

We deliver in a timely and confidential manner on various industry and government projects.

Our services have led to revision of project parameters and operations to minimise impacts on cetaceans, and the implementation of more stringent protection for endangered marine mammal species.

Our Markets

  • Environmental Impact assessment

  • Aerial survey – coastal and offshore

  • Risk mitigation for offshore industry

  • Desktop studies of marine species ecology and habitat

  • Marine fauna observing

  • Data collection and analysis

  • Review of cetacean recovery and conservation management plans

  • Scientific and logistical advice to documentary film makers

Who we work with

Government and NGOs  Environmental impact assessments

Building and Infrastructure Development  Coastal development

Energy  Offshore renewable industries, Oil and gas

Our Clients

As a leader in cetacean research, and with specialist expertise in aerial and boat-based surveys of cetaceans, the Blue Whale Study is at the forefront of marine consulting.

Blue Whale Study’s clients include Commonwealth and State government agencies, non-government organisations, offshore energy industries, and the documentary film industry. Our advice has been sought on cetacean risk assessment and mitigation for offshore industrial and onshore aquaculture projects, seismic surveys, and management and recovery plans.

Large cetacean aerial surveys have been the backbone of BWS’s long-term research program into the ecology of blue whales and other cetaceans.  With 28 years of experience, BWS are specialists in aerial survey of cetaceans along the continental shelf between Tasmania and the Great Australian Bight.

Industry

RPS Group |  2023-2025  |  Marine mammal aerial monitoring surveys for the Southern Ocean offshore wind energy zone, Otway Shelf, Victoria

Beach Energy  |  2021-2022  |  Marine mammal aerial monitoring surveys of the Otway Basin, Victoria

Beach Energy  |  2020  |  Review of blue whale occurrence in the Otway Basin, Victoria

RPS Group |  2019-2020, 2023  |  Marine mammal aerial surveys for Star of the South offshore windfarm environmental assessment, Bass Strait, Victoria

Yumbah Aquaculture |  2018 |  Marine mammal risk assessment for abalone farm proposal, Allestree, Victoria

BioPower  |  2014  |  Staff training in cetacean identification, BioPower wave energy proposal, Port Fairy, Victoria

WHL Energy   |  2013-2014  |  Large whale aerial monitoring, Otway Basin, Victoria, and staff training in cetacean identification

Bight Petroleum   |  2011-2013  |  Large whale aerial surveys, Great Australian Bight, South Australia

Origin Energy  |  2010-2012  | Large whale aerial surveys, Otway Basin, Victoria

OceanLinx  |  2008  |  Marine mammal risk assessment, offshore wave energy proposal, Portland, Victoria

Beach Petroleum  |  2007  |  Large whale aerial surveys, Bonney Upwelling, Victoria

Santos Ltd   |  2002-2007  |  Blue whale aerial surveys, development of aerial survey protocol, Bonney Upwelling and Great Australian Bight, Victoria and South Australia

Government and Non-Government Organisations

Commonwealth and state government agencies have sought BWS expertise to review numerous plans and strategy documents relating to blue whale management and conservation, including whale watching guidelines and regulations. Our expansive knowledge and expertise on blue whale ecology, cetaceans of the Southern Ocean and the Bonney Upwelling has been sought by various non-government organisations  Consultancies have included the review of whale conservation and management documents and the preparation of scientific publications.

Save our Marine Life (SOML) |  2024  |  Marine mammal aerial monitoring surveys of deep waters covered by the Schlumberger Otway 2D seismic survey

South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) |  2015-2016 | Large whale aerial surveys, Great Australian Bight Research Program

Australian Marine Mammal Centre |  2014  |  Research paper on Blue Whale relative abundance and upwelling variability, Bonney Upwelling

Australian Marine Mammal Centre |  2012  |  Blue whale aerial surveys, Bonney Upwelling, Antarctic Blue Whale Project

International Fund for Animal Welfare |  2013-2014  |  Review of cetacean diversity off south-eastern Australia

International Fund for Animal Welfare  |  2013  |  Study of blue whale/prey interactions in the Bonney Upwelling.

Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society  |  2004 |  Review of blue whale occurrence in Bonney Upwelling from Blue Whale Study survey data.

Commonwealth Environment Department |  1999 – 2007  |  Blue whale aerial and boat-based surveys, Bonney Upwelling

Shipboard Marine Fauna Observers

BWS scientists have vast experience working as marine fauna observers on numerous marine science voyages in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters, platforms of opportunity on inter-island ferries and aboard seismic vessels. Covering northern and southern marine environments of Australia, North Island New Zealand, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, the breadth of professionalism and capacity and the depth of marine mammal knowledge and understanding ensures client confidence and high level reporting.

Film

Documentary filmmakers such as the ABC’s Natural History Unit seek Blue Whale Study’s expansive scientific and logistical advise when filming blue whales and the Bonney Upwelling. We were Principal Consultant to the unit during their filming of The Big Blue, and advised on blue whale ecology, krill and the region’s ocean ecology and the research and planning of filming expeditions and locations. Our field expertise was sought during the several months of filming at sea.

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