The Wire

Southern right whales have been increasing in number over the last few years, after nearly being hunted to extinction. But they still continue to be threatened by boats. Last month a southern Right Whale was killed by a ferry in Moreton Bay in Queensland. The incident has prompted the community, including Aboriginal leaders, to call for more to be done to protect the whales from further boat collisions. Currently, the only protection afforded to the whales is a minimum distance requirement for all boats.