Thar she blows!!

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

The famous white whale, Dopey Mick, or as he's known to the non-dyslexic world, Migaloo, has just past my captain's cabin perched high on the cliff overlooking the entrance to Port Macquarie. I've spent a few hours a day for the past few weeks watching the humpbacks making their way up the east coast of Oz to their winter playground at Hervey Bay in Queensland. Migaloo is getting so famous now that he has his own website (although its not kept up-to-date http://www.migaloowhale.org/ ) Migaloo is an aboriginal word meaning 'white fella' ... Anyways, Thar She Blows!

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

White whale Migaloo spotted off NSW
Tuesday 30th June, '09

Migaloo, the famous white whale, has been spotted off the New South Wales mid-north coast and could soon be in Queensland waters, where hefty new fines apply to anyone who gets too close.

Queensland has declared Migaloo a special-interest whale, which means no one can bring a boat or jet ski closer than 500 metres or fly an aircraft within 2,000 feet of the humpback.

Environment Minister Kate Jones says anyone found in breach of these conditions faces a fine of up to $16,500.

For other whales, the limits are 100 metres for a boat and 300 metres for jet skis and the like. In these cases, a maximum penalty of $12,000 applies.

"Migaloo has been declared a special-interest whale, granting him more space to swim up the Queensland coast," Ms Jones said.

"The whale-watching regulations are there to protect the whales, but also to protect people from these huge, unpredictable mammals.

"Adult humpbacks can weigh more than a fully-loaded semi-trailer so you need to stay out of their way."

She says a white whale believed to be Migaloo was sighted off Tacking Point at Port Macquarie and is expected to be in Queensland waters this week.

The first reported sighting of Migaloo was in 1991 off Byron Bay, when he was three to five years old.

His unusual colouring makes him easy to track.

In winter humpbacks migrate north to warm tropical waters, where females give birth.

They return south to their Antarctic feeding grounds in spring.

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

[Bridget Jennings]

Without a doubt my friend you live in one of the most beautiful and interesting places in the world.

[Tweed]

Yarr!!! He's a BIG whitefella ain't he??
Thanks for sharin' him Gaia.

Wonders....how many barrels of oil a beast that size could yield...and plenty material for sho's corset factory too.....Checks hull for worms....

[Oma Larnia]

Oh he is the most beautiful whale I ever seen! Hope he lives to a ripe old age!

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

Migaloo is making great time up the east coast of Oz to meet his girlfriends in Queensland and already he's got a g/f tagging along. Today's news reports places him off the coast of Queensland http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/migaloo-in-gold-coast-romp-20090701-d4sj.html (seriously, he's really travelling fast!!) Another website devoted to the big white fella is http://www.migaloo.com.au/

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

ullo ullo ullo even The Times has caught onto the story http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6614953.ece

[Malibu DuPont]

Nice one Gaia!

[GaiaGirl Pearl]