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Dolphin encounters regularly put a smile on the faces of boaties and beach-walkers–in Pumicestone Passage, off the island's southern coast and behind the surf at Woorim. But not everyone is familiar with our two species – the Inshore Bottlenose Dolphin, and the Australian Humpback Dolphin. Their presence (and their exuberance) sometimes belie the pressures they are under. Both species rely on close inshore areas to socialise and feed – to teach their young all the skills and specialised hunting techniques they'll need to survive. As population pressures see more of their coastal habitat impacted by development, and disturbance from recreational activities on the increase, it's clear that the Moreton Bay Marine Park and its inhabitants need nature-positive actions to be taken to ensure our dolphin population thrives. SCIENTISTS AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATE Pete Garbett has had a life-long association with marine mammals, and on most days you'll find him out and about, doing the rounds of Bribie Island's coast, photographing dolphins and recording data. Pete established Bribie Island Dolphin Sightings on Facebook in 2014 and since then has worked tirelessly to build a community of dolphin-spotters, who regularly contribute sightings to the dolphin sightings group. Pete turns all these observations into valuable data which is used by scientists studying Moreton Bay's dolphins. This work provides important information on the ecology of the species, their health and informs conservation planning and management to ensure the protection of the animals and their habitats, for the future.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BRIBIE ISLAND'S DOLPHINS On Monday night 24 July, BIEPA is welcoming Dolphin Research Australia Scientist Lara Pogson-Manning as Guest Speaker. Come along and learn more about our finned friends, the research being undertaken, and what needs to be done to protect them into the future. Register for the the meeting here.
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