Trust researchers are making final preparations and packing for a 25 day research expedition to the Auckland Islands to study right whales. The research has three aims:
- To assess recovery of this population via gaining the best quality population estimate yet. This is done using photo-ID of individual whales (Led by Dr Will Rayment)
- To better understand what features of the habitat are important to right whales – so that we can better predict what areas of the New Zealand coast they are most likely to recover to. This information should play a role in deciding what further developments should take place along our coasts (Led by Dr Will Rayment)
- To understand how right whale acoustic behaviour, and how noise pollution in their environment affects their calls and how far they travel (Led by Trudi Webster)
Right whales in Port Ross:
