www.afd.org.au
Feasibility study into establishing a dolphin sea-pen sanctuary in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
| AFD are
working with Dolphin Marine Conservation Park (DMCP) and World Animal
Protection on a feasibility study into building Australia’s first dolphin
sanctuary. A sea-pen sanctuary is a large enclosed area in a natural marine
environment. The proposed location is within the Coffs Harbour Basin. The
sanctuary will house the four dolphins currently in DMCP, Calamity, Bella,
Zippy and Jet. The sea-pen sanctuary will be one of the first in the world
and aims to improve the overall welfare of the dolphins. The feasibility
study is in the final stages of completion, so far, the project has:
Commissioned government agency, Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL), to conduct
wave and tidal data analysis in the Coffs Harbour basin. MHL are coastal
engineering experts with decades of wave and climate data in NSW. Their
findings revealed it is possible from an engineering perspective to build a
dolphin sanctuary in the proposed area. Commissioned a Second Stage Report by
MHL which outlined more detailed possible locations and concept designs,
these were presented to relevant stakeholders at a council meeting in Coffs
Harbour. Gained in principle support from major stakeholders including the
Road and Maritimes Services in NSW and the Aboriginal Land Council in Coffs
Harbour. Held a roundtable discussion with cetacean experts from around
Australia to discuss potential issues and considerations. Flew dolphin
behaviourist expert, Dr Isabella Clegg, from the UK to conduct an animal
welfare assessment. Her theoretical assessment found that the sanctuary would
improve the welfare of the dolphins. |
