A Gold Coast whale expert says coronavirus has brought scientific fieldwork to a standstill, as the first humpbacks of the season are spotted off the city's coastline.
Marine biologist Dr Olaf Meynecke, from Griffith University, has been studying the mammals in Gold Coast waters for the past nine years.
He says it is one of the world's longest continuously-running whale research projects, but water-based work has now been cancelled indefinitely.
"It is a bit of a nightmare," Dr Meynecke said.
"We are very restricted in what we can do, it has to be shown as essential and we also need to demonstrate that we are at least 1.5 metres apart on the vessel while we are doing the work.
"Some of the restrictions are impossible for us to implement so at this stage everything is cancelled for us until further notice."
Unusual whale activity
Dr Meynecke said it was an unfortunate time for research to be disrupted, with sightings of whales at Currumbin earlier this week and off Byron Bay 10 days ago indicating an unusual surge in activity.
"It is not odd to see just one whale at this time of year, but the unusual thing is the frequency of sightings seems to have increased," he said.
"They are moving north and it is questionable about what exactly they are going to do up north at the moment.
"There are no other whales there and there's not going to be much to do for them.
"I suspect they will take their time and probably stay in the area and some will head back south for a bit."
Data disruption
At this time of year Griffith University researchers and members of volunteer group Humpbacks and Highrises would usually be in boats surveying the number and health of whales and collecting mucous and skin samples.
It is important data for identifying trends and possible issues, and it was hoped this year's observations would confirm a special triennial event.
"Every three years it seems there is generally more mothers and calves coming," Dr Meynecke said.
"We could be in that third year and if we do miss that you don't get enough of these three year cycles in your data set.
"We will struggle to prove that there is that cycle because so far we only have two of those events.
"It isn't the end of the world but it is unfortunate."
Dr Meynecke says land-based observations could be used to supply rudimentary data, if coronavirus restrictions remain in place.
