THE STATUS OF HUMPBACK WHALES MEGAPTERA-NOVAEANGLIAE IN EAST AUSTRALIA 30 YEARS AFTER WHALING

The portion of the Area V (130 degrees E-170 degrees W) humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae stock that migrates along the east Australian coast is estimated to have numbered 1900 +/- 250 in 1992 compared with a population possibly as low as 100 at the conclusion of whaling in 1 962. The average annual rate of increase from 1984 to 1992 is estimate d to have been 11.7% with a 95% confidence interval of 9.6-13.8%. This level of recovery suggests that, in the post whaling period there hav e been no environmental factors detrimental to this particular stock.