Established in 1988 by
Trish & Wally Franklin,
The Oceania Project is a
non-profit research organization dedicated to the
conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and the oceans.
The first phase of a
long-term study of the Eastern Australian Humpback Whales has been the major work of The Oceania Project.
Trish Franklin's observations and photo-id data have already made a significant contribution to documenting the recovery of the Eastern Australian Humpbacks following their near extinction due to commercial whaling in Antarctica.
This research has enabled Trish to document the life histories of nearly 600 individual Humpback Whales, many of whom we have come to know extremely well as they migrate annually up the east coast of Australia.
The population of Humpbacks in the Pacific was estimated to be between 45,000 and 60,000 before whaling commenced. When whaling ceased in Australia due to the lack of whales, there were an estimated 150 individuals remaining.
Trish published a collaborative paper on the recovering Eastern Australian population in 2005. Using Photo-Identification 'mark re-capture' techniques. The population was estimated to be 7,000 and could now be more than 10,000.
iWhales™ provides funding for The Oceania Project's
research and education programs.
