Dom Post/NZPA: Non-lethal whale research trip a success

The NIWA ship Tangaroa has arrived back in Wellington harbour after 6 weeks at sea, and has data that its crew says proves that whaling research need not be fatal for the whales.

The ship carried 18 scientists from New Zealand, Australia and France.

An excerpt: (read in full here)

“The expedition collected more than 60 biopsy samples, took many photo-identifications of humpback whales and acoustics data. The scientists also placed 30 satellite tags on humpback whales to provide movement data on the feeding grounds and migration routes back to the tropical breeding areas in winter.

“The scientific team said it would analyse the data over the next two months to get a clearer picture on a “range of important conservation science issues such as whale movement and feeding behaviour, defining migratory routes, and mixing patterns between different breeding populations”.”