November Marine Life Sightings in Southeast Tasmania

November 2024 has been a spectacular month for wildlife enthusiasts exploring the waters off Tasmania’s southeast coast. We had a mixed bag of rare Orca sightings, Humpback Whales stopping by to feed with their babies in tow, and an impressive bloom of all sorts of gorgeous gelatinous creatures that look like jelly fish but are actually more closely related to humans. – Read on if you’re curious what that might be.

Seeing Orcas is always a massive treat

We know, we shouldn’t have favourites as all wildlife – be it on land, in the air, or in the ocean – are vital contributors to our ecosystems. But seeing Orcas (Killer Whales) in Tasmanian waters is always special.

These apex predators are very elusive in this area. Unlike Humpback Whales for example, Orcas don’t follow a certain migration schedule, which means they pop up unexpectedly, and often disappear just as quickly. They may show up at any time of the year, with some months more likely as their food source is more abundant.

November has been a great month for Orca sightings off Tasmania’s southeast coast. Reports have been pouring in from fishermen and recreational boaters. We had the best day on 9th November, when our guests got to spend around 45 minutes with a male and female Orca as we slowly cruised with them for nine kilometres between Cape Hauy and Waterfall Bay.

The towering dorsal fin of the male Killer Whale with its bent tip looked very familiar and has since been identified by David Donnelly from Killer Whales Australia as ‘EA0055’.

Humpback Whale Nursery in Motion

Throughout November, Humpback Whales have been a frequent sight on our boat tours, with groups of up to a dozen individuals feeding and travelling together. Many were accompanied by calves – baby whales that are still dependent on their mothers’ milk but are already learning key survival behaviours.

The calves mimic the adults when they lunge-feed, breach and slap their flippers. It’s absolutely adorable to watch! These playful yet essential behaviours help the calves prepare for adulthood. They learn the most efficient techniques to feed alone and in small groups as well as to navigate the open ocean and to communicate with other whales in the area.

Gorgeous Gelatinous Creatures

In the last week of November, the waters along Tasmania’s east coast were teeming with diverse gelatinous creatures. Some of these species were Salps which are quite common to see in the area at this time of year.

So many Salps! A jelly-like creature that is closer related to humans than to jellyfish.

Salps are barrel-shaped, translucent animals that drift through the water in chains or as individuals. While they might resemble jellyfish at first glance, Salps are actually more closely related to humans than they are to jellyfish. Salps belong to the phylum Chordata, which includes all vertebrates, and they have a more complex nervous system compared to jellyfish.

Salps play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem.  Salps serve as a food source for at least 202 species, including fish, turtles, and crustaceans. When the system is out of whack due to large plankton blooms for example, the Salps being very efficient grazers come to the rescue to reduce biomass. They are also unsung heroes in the ocean’s carbon cycle. By consuming plankton – which contain carbon – and sinking to the seafloor after they die, they help transport carbon out of the atmosphere and into the deep ocean.

Ever heard of Carinaria, Sea Butterflies or Sea Elephants?

Amongst the Salps, this blobby little creature stood out. According to jellyfish expert, scientist and bestselling author Dr. Lisa-Ann Gershwin, it is a Carinaria – a heteropod which is a type of mollusc related to Sea Butterflies and Sea Elephants. It might not look like it, but Carinarias are carnivorous and opportunistic predators, feeding on various planktonic organisms, including Salps and Copepods.

You heard right – and we probably just opened a can of worms for you – however, we highly recommend going down the rabbit hole of ‘jelly creature’ research. There are so many weird and wonderful animals to explore that most of us have never heard of. Thanks to the research and documentation of scientists like Lisa-Ann Gershwin, we can do it all from the comfort of our coach without getting our feet wet.

…or you can join one of our scenic tours and learn more about amazing marine creatures like Carinaria.