RESEARCH

The Aims of the Research Program

The Dolphin Discovery Centre research program has grown in recent years and has been developed with three overall aims in mind:

• To provide information which is of significance to our understanding of the ecology of dolphins and to their future conservation and management,
• To develop recommendations pertaining to human disturbance on the dolphin population so that impacts are minimised which will help ensure the sustainability of the dolphin watching experience in Bunbury, and
• To build Bunbury Dolphin Discovery into a nationally and internationally recognised dolphin research centre that excels in scientifically rigorous marine research.

The most significant development within this area is our exclusively endorsed research program and partnership with Murdoch University’s Cetacean Research Unit. 

We will soon put together more website pages detailing this partnership.  In the meantime check out the program's website at:

http://www.cffr.murdoch.edu.au/mucru/

The Objectives of the Research Program

The program itself is still in its infancy however it does have a number of specific objectives:

• To identify the population dynamics of the Bottlenose dolphins in the Bunbury area and how this changes over time.
• To identify the importance of different habitats used by Bottlenose dolphins in the Bunbury area.
• To quantify the effect of boat traffic (including tourism activities) on Bottlenose dolphins in an area of high human impact, and compare results to locations in more pristine areas.

What it all means for the DDC

The successful development of infrastructure, scientific expertise, and a primary research program will see the Dolphin Discovery Centre reach its potential as a nationally and internationally recognised dolphin research centre. Being known as a renowned centre for research it will attract scientists from prestigious institutions worldwide. Media, in many forms, will arrive in Bunbury and long term positive effects on the environment and economy of the region are expected. Findings from research conducted in Bunbury will add significantly to the pool of current knowledge on the topic of the sustainability of wild dolphins, and their significance as important community resource. Such knowledge will have implications for conservation and management of wildlife both in Bunbury and worldwide.

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