WA whale puzzle to be probed
Scientists will deploy a deep- water recording device 400m below the surface of the Southern Ocean off WA next week in a bid to find out more about a mysterious marine phenomenon.
Many killer whales returned to an ocean hotspot 50km off Bremer Bay this week as research resumed into the Bremer Canyon area, which attracts hundreds of marine creatures for several weeks annually.
Up to 30 killer whales from different family groups have been spotted every day since daily expeditions to the area resumed a week ago.
Esperance filmmaker David Riggs, who discovered the hotspot 10 years ago and organises the expeditions, said the deployment of the device was an exciting development.
"It will really give us a good idea of how important this place is," he said. "To me, it's critical that we don't have any influence on the animals at all."
Scientists from Curtin University will leave the device on the seabed for the next 12 months to record surrounding activity to find out the species and numbers of creatures visiting the area.
A Murdoch University researcher is also looking at the presence of a big number of sunfish. Mr Riggs said this year they were seeing yellow-tinged killer whales, which are thought to come from colder Antarctic waters which have affected their skin colour, and a high number of wandering albatrosses.
The public can join the expeditions, which will run until next month.
