Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)
Collisions between vessels and marine fauna can injure or kill animals, injure people on board and damage vessels. Keep watch for marine fauna, travel at safe speeds and keep an appropriate distance in areas where animals may be present.
Marine fauna particularly susceptible to collisions include dolphins, dugongs, turtles, whales and whale sharks. These species are protected in Australian waters under Commonwealth (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999), state and territory legislation.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has developed a National Strategy for Reducing Vessel Strike on Cetaceans and other Marine Megafauna, which provides guidance on understanding and reducing the risk of vessel collisions and the impacts they may have on marine megafauna.
Although collisions with marine fauna can happen anywhere in Australian waters, the risk of collision is greater in breeding areas and along seasonal migration routes. Collision risk also increases in shallower waters where a vessel has less under-keel clearance, leaving an animal less room to avoid the vessel.
Smaller vessels that collide with large marine species can cause serious injuries to those on board and can damage or capsize the vessel. Collisions with large commercial vessels can also result in significant damage to the hull, propellers, shafts and rudders.
Collisions between vessels and marine fauna may result in injuries or death. Propellers and hulls can cause significant damage to even the largest animals, and the size, type and speed of the vessel also influence the severity of injury. Animals may not die immediately from the collision but may instead die slowly from their injuries. Collisions can also have population-level effects on marine fauna, especially for threatened species.
Be aware of high-risk locations and take extra precautions:
Commercial vessels operators should conduct a risk assessment as part of their Safety Management System (SMS), especially if operating in areas where marine fauna are likely to be present. The risk assessment should include control measures to reduce the risk of collisions with marine fauna.
When you approach marine fauna, you should:
If an animal approaches your vessel, you should:
A Master’s obligation to navigate at a safe speed, and maintain a safe and proper lookout, is outlined in the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG) and enacted in Australian legislation (the Navigation Act 2012).
Reporting collisions is important as it helps build a better understanding of when, where and why collisions occur. If your vessel collides with a protected marine species in Commonwealth waters (i.e. three to 200 nautical miles from the coast), you are required to notify the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Similar reporting requirements may also apply in state and territory waters (i.e. within 3 nautical miles from the coast). Failure to notify is an offence punishable on conviction by a fine.
If your vessel is a commercial vessel and is involved in a collision with marine fauna, you may also need to report the event to AMSA as a marine incident. The Navigation Act 2012 and the Marine Safety (Domestic Commercial Vessel) National Law Act 2012 both include obligations to report marine incidents, including where there is significant damage to a vessel or injuries to persons onboard. If you observe a carcass that may be a risk to safety of navigation, this should also be reported to AMSA.
All collisions with marine fauna in Commonwealth or state/territory waters should be reported to the Australian Marine Mammal Centre.
Contact the following local groups to report and assist injured marine animals: