The Oceania Project

The Oceania Project was established in 1988 as a notforprofit research and education organisation dedicated to the conservation and care of Cetacea (Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises and their Ocean Environment. The primary activity of The Oceania Project is a longterm study of the social behaviour and population dynamics of eastern Australian humpback whales in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia. The first phase of the study took place over the years 1992 2017. Outcomes from this study have been published in thirtythree peerreviewed scientific publications led by The Oceania Project's Senior Scientist, Dr Trish Franklin (see: https://bit.ly/38BC5Ab ). The vesselbased Humpback whale research Expeditions were, and will continue to be, supported by the General Public. During the first phase of the study over 2500 members of the Public participated in and financially supported the research program through an Internship Program. Phase two of the longterm study will be undertaken between 2022 and 2027. It will involve continuation of the longterm photoidentification work and the undertaking of a study of whalesong entitled Seasonal and diurnal patterns of humpback whale songs and sounds in Hervey Bay Queensland, Australia. Dr Wally Franklin attended the Biennial Marine Mammal Conference in Perth in November 2024 and together with Dr Lyndon Brooks presented a new and important peerreviewed publication Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Hervey Bay, Australia: a stopover for females early in their southern migration, see Twitter post for details of poster and paper: https://x.com/DrWallyFranklin/status/1857765331793518690 Dr Franklin was appointed as an Adjunct Fellow, School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of Sunshine Coast and was part of the University of Sunshine coast delegation at the Biennial Marine Mammal Conference, see: https://x.com/georginahume/status/1856911406953881775 The Oceania Project maintains a primary website (https://www.oceania.org.au) and an extensive social media platform on Facebook, Vimeo, Soundcloud, YouTube and Flicker. The Social Media platforms can be accessed through The Oceania Project's Primary website or via: https://www.oceaniaproject.net . The Oceania Project has 200,000 followers on its Social Media Platforms and in excess of 30 million public views of the educational films and information from The Oceania Project's long term studies have been accumulated over the last two decades.