'Calling the wind': Blue whales, climate and whale tourism in Timor-Leste

Presenter	Professor Karen Edyvane (National University of Timor-Leste)
Date	5 July 2024
Time	9:15 am to 10:15 am
Contact person	E: RIEL.outreach@cdu.edu.au
Location	Savanna Room, Yellow 1 level 2 room 48 at CDU Casuarina Campus And online via Zoom (see below for Zoom link) All times are ACST
Open to	Public

Previous studies have identified the major economic potential for whale watching in the developing nation of Timor-Leste. We outline our efforts in developing a whale and dolphin ecotourism industry - working collaboratively with project partners (government, fishing communities, whale tour operators, eco-volunteers) - including annual cetacean monitoring, ‘citizen science’ and public education (ie. school resources, sightings App). We report on our findings (2016-2023) on cetacean diversity from a combination of dedicated aerial surveys and ongoing, boat-based and land-based (and drone-based) monitoring and incidental sightings and also traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) studies. We confirm the region as a global cetacean biodiversity hotspot, with at least 21 species recorded residing in or passing through Timor-Leste's waters. Including baleen whales, toothed whales, killer whales, and large and small dolphin species, including the rare, subspecies, dwarf spinner dolphin; and large, multi-species ‘superpods’ of oceanic dolphins. We confirm annual migrations of migratory large whales and oceanic dolphins (eg. pygmy blue whales, sperm whales, short-finned pilot whales, Risso dolphins). In particular, we confirm a major, annual migration of pygmy blue whales (South-East Indian Ocean population) through the Ombai-Wetar Passage – with migration strongly linked to the prevailing seasonal monsoonal climate, tides and wind- driven, seasonal upwellings and climate drivers (ENSO, IOD, MJO). 

We propose that Timor-Leste arguably provides some of the best and most accessible, whale-watching in the world, particularly for large migratory whales. However, with growing major threats (ie. shipping, illegal fishing, marine pollution) and unregulated, rapidly-growing cetacean tourism, Timor-Leste urgently needs laws/regulations, ongoing research/monitoring and support/training to develop a sustainable whale watching industry – and protect and manage its globally-significant cetacean diversity.  We also highlight the critical need for urgent transboundary conservation, international cooperation and population-level scientific collaboration for migratory species - particularly for pygmy blue whales and sperm whales.

Karen Edyvane (PhD, UAdel) is a marine scientist with extensive experience (>30 years) in coastal science, planning and management. Since her move to Darwin in 2006, her research interests have primarily focused on northern Australia and the Arafura and Timor Seas region - with a focus on coastal and marine ecosystems, sustainability, ecosystem management and environmental governance. For the past 10 years she has been working in Timor-Leste, as a researcher and international development consultant on a range of marine biodiversity, sustainability and livelihood development projects. She is currently a Visiting Professor at the National University of Timor-Leste, an Honorary Research Fellow with Charles Darwin University and an Associate Professor with the Australian National University.

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