Southern Right Whale Nursery Protection Area

Council resolution - 20 May 2019

On 20 May 2019 Council resolved to write to State Government in support of a Southern Right Whale Nursery Protection Area being created in the coastal waters between the Hindmarsh River Mouth and Murray Mouth from May-October each year.  Council resolved that in their view, this should take the form of a motorised vessel exclusion zone with an exception for emergency services.  In making this decision, Council considered the outcomes of a public consultation process undertaken during February-March 2019.

Council does not itself have legal authority to establish the protection area.  The mechanism for establishing a motorised vessel exclusion zone over the suggested area during whale season would be the creation of a restricted area pursuant to Section 27 of the Harbours and Navigations Act 1993 (SA).

To give effect to Council’s resolution, Council administration has now written to the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, the Hon. Stephan Knoll MP, requesting that consideration be given to the establishment of a Southern Right Whale Nursery Protection Area as supported by Council. 

A copy of the full Council report from 20 May 2019 is available here and a copy of the resolution from the minutes is available here. 

A map of the proposed protection area is included below.