20/01/2005 - The release
today of findings from a conference on whale
strandings is an important step in understanding
more about why these mammals strand.
The national Marine Mammals Stranding Conference,
held in May 2004, was co-hosted by the Australian
Government Department of the Environment
and Heritage and the International Fund
for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
The Australian Minister for the Environment
and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, said
it was vital we try to understand why mass
strandings occur and how we can minimise
whales' suffering.
"Why whales strand themselves is an
issue at the hearts of most Australians
and causes community distress," Senator
Campbell said.
"The release of the conference findings
is timely following the number of strandings
on our coastline, particularly off Tasmania,
in recent months."
More than 70 scientists, veterinarians,
museum staff, industry, government and non-government
representatives from Australia, New Zealand,
the UK and the USA attended the conference.
The group concluded that while States and
Territories have their own procedures in
place, three important initiatives should
be introduced to ensure better consistency
and coordination.
These include a national set of protocols
for the collection and storage of information
about stranded marine mammals, the creation
of a central, national database for information
on strandings, and the establishment of
an Australasian Marine Mammals Strandings
Network.
"The Australian Government is already
funding the establishment of a national
whale strandings database and now we are
working towards the development of a marine
mammal strandings network," Senator
Campbell said.
"The Australian Government is also
working towards developing a national standard
for the collection of scientific samples
to assist in research into the causes of
marine mammal strandings.
"Because this issue needs a cooperative
approach, I contacted the New Zealand Conservation
Minister following mass strandings off Australian
and New Zealand coastlines late last year,
to initiate a trans-Tasman exchange of information
on whale strandings.
"I am pleased the New Zealand Government
has welcomed this initiative and offered
the expertise and experience of the government,"
he said.
IFAW Asia Pacific has also applauded the
Australian Government's leadership in helping
our whales.
IFAW's Darren Kindleysides said: "Now
the foundation has been laid, we look forward
to the Australian Government's continued
commitment as we work together to address
whale strandings."
Meetings to progress these initiatives
will be held in February. The first steps
in this new approach will be to work with
state agencies and the community to ensure
that we build on existing successful approaches
so we can enhance our information and responses
to stranding events.
