Life in the Shipping Lane; The Cost of Increasing Disturbance to Whales

该项目旨在量化摩顿湾船舶撞击对座头鲸增加的风险，并预测慢性干扰对哺乳幼崽的影响。这项研究建立在将摩顿湾确定为座头鲸迁徙休息区的试点结果的基础上。这项研究使用经验和模型方法，直接回应了联邦政府减轻船舶罢工的战略，该战略明确将摩顿湾列为“关注区域”。该项目是与传统业主和行业合作开发的，预计将为该地区提供最佳缓解措施。这些发现进一步对澳大利亚座头鲸迁徙走廊沿线类似的功能栖息地产生了影响。

This project aims to quantify the increasing risk of ship strike to humpback whales in Moreton Bay, and predict the impact of chronic disturbance to nursing calves. The research builds on pilot findings identifying Moreton Bay as a resting area for migrating humpback whales. Using empirical and modelling approaches, this research responds directly to the Federal Government strategy for mitigating ship strike, which explicitly flags Moreton Bay as an 'area of concern'. The project has been developed in collaboration with traditional owners and industry, and is expected deliver optimal mitigation measures for the region. Findings further carry implications for similar functional habitats along Australia's humpback whale migratory corridors.