❓ Hon. Diane Evers questions the Minister for Environment regarding dolphin populations in Koombana Bay, including population studies, mortality rates, causes of death, and the impact of the proposed marina. The Minister provides data on population size, reported deaths, and ongoing research.
AnsweredQoN 1450Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DOLPHINS — KOOMBANA BAY
1450. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
(1) When was the
last population study of dolphins inhabiting Bunbury coastal and inland waters,
including Koombana Bay, completed and what was the last reported population
figure?
(2) How many bottlenose
dolphins from Koombana Bay and surrounds have reportedly died since 2013?
(3) How many of these deaths have
been attributed to boating activities?
(4) Has the
government completed any studies on the impact of human interaction and
increased marine traffic from the proposed Koombana Bay marina on the local
bottlenose dolphin population; if yes, when were they completed and will the
minister please table the relevant reports; and, if no, why not?
1450. Hon DIANE EVERS to the Minister for Environment:
(1) When was the
last population study of dolphins inhabiting Bunbury coastal and inland waters,
including Koombana Bay, completed and what was the last reported population
figure?
(2) How many bottlenose
dolphins from Koombana Bay and surrounds have reportedly died since 2013?
(3) How many of these deaths have
been attributed to boating activities?
(4) Has the
government completed any studies on the impact of human interaction and
increased marine traffic from the proposed Koombana Bay marina on the local
bottlenose dolphin population; if yes, when were they completed and will the
minister please table the relevant reports; and, if no, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has advised that the
last population study was undertaken over
the summer and autumn of 2013 by Murdoch University and was estimated to be
150, adults and juveniles combined.
(2) Seven bottlenose dolphin deaths from Koombana Bay
and surrounds have been reported to DBCA since 2013.
(3) Based on reports to DBCA, no
dolphin deaths since 2013 have been attributed to boat strikes.
(4) Murdoch
University is undertaking research on this subject and is keeping DBCA informed
of findings.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions has advised that the
last population study was undertaken over
the summer and autumn of 2013 by Murdoch University and was estimated to be
150, adults and juveniles combined.
(2) Seven bottlenose dolphin deaths from Koombana Bay
and surrounds have been reported to DBCA since 2013.
(3) Based on reports to DBCA, no
dolphin deaths since 2013 have been attributed to boat strikes.
(4) Murdoch
University is undertaking research on this subject and is keeping DBCA informed
of findings.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.