Whaling in Australian waters began in 1791 when five of the 11 ships in the Third Fleet landed their passengers and freight at Sydney Cove and then left Port Jackson to engage in whaling and seal hunting off the coast of Australia and New Zealand.[1] The two main species hunted by such vessels in the early years were right and sperm whales. Humpback, bowhead and other whale species would later be taken.[2]
Whaling went on to be a major maritime industry in Australia providing work for hundreds of ships and thousands of men and contributing export products worth £4.2 million by 1850.[3]
Modern whaling using harpoon guns and iron hulled catchers was conducted in the twentieth century from shore-based stations in Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.[4]
A government inquiry into the industry in 1978 resulted in a ban on whaling in Australia and a commitment to whale protection. Whale watching is now a significant tourist industry in its own right.
- ^ Cumpston, John (1977). Shipping arrivals & departures Sydney, 1788-1825. Canberra: Roebuck. p. 26.
- ^ Suter, Keith D. (October 1982). "Australia's new whaling policy: Formulation and implementation". Marine Policy. 6 (4): 287–302. Bibcode:1982MarPo...6..287S. doi:10.1016/0308-597X(82)90004-5.
- ^ Coghlin, Timothy (1918). Labour and industry in Australia, from the first settlement in 1788 to the establishment of the Commonwealth in 1901, Volume 1. London: Oxford University Press. p. 510.
- ^ "Dakin, chapters X-XIV". Archived from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
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