NORTH Stradbroke Island is gearing up for the annual humpback whale migration with the season’s first sighting noted on May 7.
The sighting was one of the earliest on record according to Manta Lodge YHA and Scuba Centre director James Griffith.
Mr Griffith said the unseasonal warm may have had something to do with the earlier-than-usual migration north.
He said the average water temperature around Flat Rock was about 24C, which was about 2C higher than the autumn average.
"It has been an extremely warm autumn and we even saw the first humpback whale pass Straddie on May 7, which is very early for the start of the migration."
On Tuesday, boaties were warned to keep a sharp eye out for the migrating whales and alerted to the hefty fines for harassing whales or getting within 300m of the animals.
Boats are not allowed within 500m of white whales including the crowd favourite Migaloo, who was spotted off the Queensland coast last year.
Environment Minister Steven Miles said the risks to those on the water became greater each year as whale numbers recovered from near-extinction.
“From a low of about 500 humpbacks travelling up our coast in the mid 1960s, we now have more than 20,000 making the journey from Antarctica each year to breed, calve, and enjoy the warmer waters,” Dr Miles said.
“The population’s recovery is one of the world’s great conservation success stories, and we reap the tourism benefits here in Queensland.”
In April, the state government and Redland City Council announced they would both spend $300,000 upgrading the popular North Stradbroke Island Gorge Walk.
The project will include a new viewing deck for whale watching at the beginning of the Gorge Walk.
