National Strategy for Reducing Vessel Strike on Cetaceans and other Marine Megafauna

About this document

Vessel strike is a potential or known threat to many of Australia’s marine fauna including whales, dolphins, dugongs and marine turtles. Interactions with marine fauna can occur with vessels of all sizes from smaller recreational vessels through to large commercial ships. The species and number of animals involved in collisions is not always clear as the interactions are often not reported or people operating the vessel are not actually aware that a collision has taken place.

The National Strategy for Reducing Vessel Strike on Cetaceans and other Marine Megafauna 2017 provides guidance on understanding and reducing the risk of vessel collisions and the impacts they may have on marine megafauna.

Further information

• Quantitative assessment of the risk of ship strike to humpback whales in the Great Barrier Reef - Final Report
• Reporting a collision between a vessel and a cetacean