Dolphin Research Institute in Hastings, Victoria | Educational research centre

Dolphin Research Institute

Locality: Hastings, Victoria

Phone: +61 3 5979 7100

Address: Western Port Marina 3915 Hastings, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.dolphinresearch.org.au/

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• Non-profit organisation
• Environmental conservation organisation
• Educational research centre

25.01.2022 Our 2020 Annual Report is ready to download.. Wow what a year so far for The Dolphin Research Institute! You can read how your support has helped our team of staff, interns and volunteers to achieve some fantastic research and education outcomes - in spite of the challenging times. ... 2021 is our 30th year and we are currently working to make DRI stronger for an uncertain future. The only thing we can be sure of is that our work, and your support, will be needed more than ever... Download now at https://www.dolphinresearch.org.au//DRI-2020-Annual-Report or if you would like a paper copy email [email protected]

25.01.2022 For those lucky enough to live within 5 kms of the coast, you may wish to cast your eyes seaward during your daily exercise. Our Two Bays Whale Project is now getting consistent sightings of whales within sight of Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula ocean beaches!

25.01.2022 Something to brighten up your Friday! Baby seahorses are not the only cutees at Blairgowrie at the moment. Checkout these beautiful little squid floating near the surface at the marina! #getoutthere #snorkeling #Blairgowrie #PortPhillipBay

24.01.2022 World-first Approach to Protect Our Dolphins Dolphin Research Institute (DRI) is asking boaters to commit to "Dolphin Distancing" this summer to protect our dolphins. Our bays are giant nurseries for about 140 bottlenose and 40 common dolphins. We also get visits from killer whales the largest of the dolphin family as well as humpback and southern right whales.... "It is remarkable to have these animals in our marine backyard, and they deserve our respect and best efforts to protect them", said Jeff Weir OAM, DRI's Executive Director. "It's not about spoiling the remarkable experience of seeing whales and dolphins, just showing respect for the animals and their environment". This summer the Institute is piloting a new approach they believe is a world-first, for improving our behaviour around dolphins. Rather than blaming, shaming and complaining, we are asking the community to be part of the solution by creating a new "norm" on the water. Unfortunately we saw some appalling harassment of whales and dolphins on the few winter days this year when boats could get out between COVID lock-downs. DRI is asking people to commit to doing the right thing, then to proudly display a commitment sticker on their vessel. Long-term ongoing communication with participants will reinforce participation and build the program to get many thousands involved. "We want to build a strong community of Dolphin Distancers. It's crucial for our dolphins' welfare. Our plans for DRI's fourth decade have Dolphin Distancing firmly embedded, after thirty years we know there are no quick fixes and you can trust us to be here for the long-haul. The boating industry, boating associations and the general community are already keen to be involved. Simply visit our website at www.dolphinresearch.org.au to show your support..

23.01.2022 This wonderful image adds the 150th humpback whale to the Victorian Humpback Whale Catalogue. Our thanks go to Colleen Gilbee for taking the shot during a Wildlife Coast Cruises trip off Willson's Promontory. It took a decade to add the 50th whale in 2017 and thanks to some wonderful citizen scientists, only three years to reach 150! Whilst milestones are nice - the crucial thing is that this work supports the conservation of these animals. Data from the Two Bays Whale Proj...ect is being shared with an international project on Whales and Climate Change. #twobayswhales #wildlifecoastcruises #dolphinresearchinstitute #whalesvictoria #humpbackwhales See more

22.01.2022 Some more fabulous items available at our Online Auction! Get party-ready with a luxe makeover at @runwayroomsorrento enjoy stunning beachside accommodation at @portseavillageresort or indulge in a beautiful organic and local produce basket from @stringersstoresorrento Visit and bid now at www.dolphinresearch.org.au/shop

22.01.2022 Looking for a special gift to help protect our dolphins and bays? Visit our online auction, now live for some beautiful items including luxury accommodation at Portsea Village Resort fishing adventures on the bay with Reel Time Fishing golf fun with Mornington Golf Club artisan gluten free beer from TWØBAYS Brewing Co www.dolphinresearch.org.au/shop

22.01.2022 Say hello to Richard and Harry, who have recently pledged to dolphin distance! Join these champions to help protect our unique dolphins in our bays... Visit www.dolphinresearch.org.au to commit now and receive your sticker to show your support

21.01.2022 I met up with Jacqui Salter from Mornington Peninsula Shire earlier this week. She's the new Climate Change Community Education Officer and my contact for the I sea I care ambassador program. We've been friends for years and it was awesome to meet up and celebrate all the successes from the 2020 Keep Victoria Beautiful Awards. Especially as Jacqui won the incredible Dame Phyllis Frost Award for all she does in the community and environmental leadership. She was the Landcare Facilitator for many years and I was privileged to be a mentor in the Women in Conservation project that she established last year. Congratulations Jacqui, you totally deserve it. Mornington Peninsula Shire #womeninconservation #dolphinresearchinstitute #kvbtidytowns

21.01.2022 "Covid-crazy" best explains the behaviour of people around our dolphins in both bays, so far this Summer. It seems worse this year and angry, frustrated people are calling us to report what they are seeing. The stress of endless interruptions to feeding, resting or nursing take a toll, and can cause the loss of local dolphin populations. ... Unfortunately there are no quick fixes the best thing is to report concerns to DELWP on 136 186 for them to follow up the worst events and to support a case for greater enforcement. DRI collates reports we receive and forward them directly to Wildlife Officers. We are also working with the community and other parts of government. After three decades of doing things that don’t work -- with the usual signs, media releases, calls for more policing, or blaming and shaming, we are trying something different that we know has worked in other situations. We are working to build a strong community committed to doing respecting dolphins and shift the norm on the water. This is what Dolphin Distancing is about. It’s easy, doesn’t cost anything and makes you part of the solution. You can commit on our website. And we ask you to proudly display the sticker we send you and to enlist friends. We are talking to yacht clubs, fishing and boating groups (including Jet skis) and many more, to join in. The Dolphin Research Institute is here for the long-haul and Dolphin Distancing, to achieve behaviour change around our dolphins, will be a core program throughout our fourth decade. But first, because the uptake has been so great, we need to print more stickers! Make your commitment to at www.dolphinresearch.org.au #dolphins #dolphinresearchinstitute #iseaicare #dolphinswim #portphillip #westernport #somers #sorrento #portsea #jetski #fishing

21.01.2022 The Two Bays whale season may be over but citizen science efforts from around Victoria continue submit sightings and images via our PodWatch reporting system. This week we received new humpback whale fluke ID images which have been added to the Victorian catalogue!!

20.01.2022 More fabulous auction items for you! Enjoy a Grampians getaway at Dunkeld cottage (available through holidays) get your car sparkling at Redde detailing, beachside dining at Counting House and a delicious cake from Brendan's cakes. Visit www.dolphinresearch.org.au/shop

20.01.2022 Still a few places available for the 18th.

20.01.2022 Fantastic session today at Balnarring with these little legends!! So happy to be back #dolphinresearchinstitute #schoolholidayprogram #rockpoolramble

19.01.2022 DRI Partners International Whale & Climate Project / TAS strandings / DRI's Annual Report - https://mailchi.mp//help-us-build-a-community-who-cares-en

19.01.2022 Forget Black Friday, we have something so much more special! Join us to help raise dollars to help protect our unique dolphins and bays... These wonderful items have been kindly donated by our superstar local businessess in our community. Welcome to Into the Looking Glass with a stunning artisan terrarium, handcrafted earring from Mornington Sea Glass delicious platters from Beach Box Grazing and relax on horseback at The Ranch Mornington Peninsula Auction opens 9am this Sat...urday at www.dolphinresearch.org.au/shop Visit now to see these and so many more great items!! See more

19.01.2022 Congratulations to DRI's Education Director Mandy!

18.01.2022 Today is a global day of action. Asking our leaders to put climate change front and centre. School Strike 4 Climate Australia have over 600 actions happening all across the country. Some are live protests and others are online. One action anyone could take is post a picture wearing or holding something yellow. So we did. Here's the team showing their colours. At Dolphin Research Institute, we recognise the climate emergency as a key issue of our time. Not later this century. The future of our marine environment is at stake. #dolphinresearchinstitute #itstheirfuture #LeadOnClimate #climateactionnow #schoolstrike4climate #FundOurFutureNotGas

17.01.2022 It was wonderful to see two energetic common dolphin calves last week during our first survey since July on Port Phillip. We think the larger calf belongs to Ragged Fin, who we have known since 2007. The smaller calf belongs to Poke and you can see faint stripes on its side. These stripes are "fetal folds" caused by being scrunched up in their mother before birth. They usually fade by 3 months, suggesting that this tiny calf is probably only 6-8 weeks old. (Photo was taken under our scientific research permit).

17.01.2022 Oops!! We've had a small glitch with registration on today's auction. All repaired now, so please visit www.dolphinresearch.org.au/shop to start bidding!Oops!! We've had a small glitch with registration on today's auction. All repaired now, so please visit www.dolphinresearch.org.au/shop to start bidding!

16.01.2022 CELEBRATING NAIDOC WEEK 2020: Always Was, Always Will Be. At Dolphin Research Institute we place great importance on ensuring our students recognise and value our First Nations People through interactive learning experiences about Indigenous spiritual and cultural connection to country, and that our First Nations people have been caring for this amazing land for over 65,000 years. An essential component of our I SEA I CARE Marine Ambassador Program is an Indigenous Cultural ...Workshops run by the amazing Lionel Lauch from Living Culture Ltd and Dean Stewart from Aboriginal Tours And Education Melbourne - A TAEM. These workshops are absolutely fascinating and range from the diverse cultural history of our land, to Indigenous bush medicine, food gathering, hunting weapons, fire management and more! Our Ambassadors have an absolute blast whilst gaining an amazing insight into, and deeper respect for our First Nations People past, present and into the future as these sessions empower them to tread more lightly on this earth. We are so grateful to Lionel and Dean for sharing their amazing knowledge with our Ambassadors! #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWeek or #NAIDOC #livingcultureltd #AboriginalToursAndEducationMelbourne See more

16.01.2022 A fantastic capture of our bottlenose dolphins over at Bellarine recently... Thanks to a talented local photographer @lonniesnaps_photography for the amazing image! (Reposted with permission)

14.01.2022 Looking forward to a great night thanks TWØBAYS Brewing Co BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW - See link below

13.01.2022 Thank you Amy for your wonderful donations and support over the years to DRI! Like many of our small business owners the @thelowtoxfox needs your help during these really tough times... Please shop local and small to keep everyone going if you can

13.01.2022 Dolphin Research Institute AGM Invitation - https://mailchi.mp//help-us-build-a-community-who-cares-en

11.01.2022 ONLY 31 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!! DRI's fabulous online auction starts Saturday... Give a gift this year which means so much, no shopping, FREE home delivery, and great karma included! Every special item has been generously donated by our awesome supporters in our local community.. Something for everyone, auction items available to view at www.dolphinresearch.org.au

11.01.2022 DRI Makes Submission to AGL EES... This week DRI lodged our submission to the 11,000-page Environmental Effects Statement (EES) pertaining to AGL's proposal to establish a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) import facility with Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) at Crib Point, and gas pipeline to Packenham. (Image credit: AGL EES) AGL's purpose is to provide gas to SE Australia which faces a gas shortage according to the national energy regulator. ...Continue reading

11.01.2022 Another fantastic achievement for DRI's citizen science Two Bays Whale Project! Our team have worked hard to maintain our citizen science projects throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and this is just one small reward for a lot of hard work. Thanks to our amazing citizen science community for maintaining your efforts, it is greatly appreciated. Thanks also to our project partner Wildlife Coast Cruises, without the efforts of your crew the Two Bays Whale Project would not have achieved nearly as much as it has in 2020.

09.01.2022 The Dolphin Research Institute, through its Two Bays Whale Project is proud to be a collaborator on this latest multi-organisational investigation into the effects of climate change of whales in the southern hemisphere. DRI's contribution to this project is significant, providing important information on whale movements in south eastern Australia, an area which previously was poorly represented in the data. We would like to acknowledge all the citizen scientists who have con...tributed their sightings via the Two Bays Whale Project. This is just one way in which the information you have shared is assisting in the conservation of whales in our part of the world. Thank you!

09.01.2022 FREE SCHOOL HOLIDAY ROCK POOL PROGRAM REGISTER ON THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://docs.google.com//1FAIpQLSe6YpkFC2WGRciEXU/viewform Looking for something awesome for your children to do over the school holidays? We are running two fabulous rock pool sessions:... January 18th from 11-12.30pm and January 20th from 12.30-2pm! SOLD OUT ON 20th LIMITED PLACES LEFT FOR 18th Dolphin Research Institute Education Director Mandy Robertson and the Education Team will lead you on a fascinating tour of the Balnarring rock platform where you will learn about all the amazing creatures that live in and around this amazing location! Our Rock Pool sessions are always a hit with children of all ages....and the parents have just as much fun as their kids! See the link at the top of this post to register and for all the information you need for a Covid-safe and totally awesome activity! If you have any further questions please contact Mandy on [email protected] Please register as soon as possible as these sessions are very popular and usually fill up very quickly! Thanks to the talented people at hmcreative for this awesome video

08.01.2022 Welcome to our second auction live from 9am today! Some beautiful items available including local artisan hamper from Dindi Naturals fishing adventures with Bay Fish N Trips Peninsula wine from Hickinbotham of Dromana and a relaxing facial from Ellegant You Join now at www.dolphinresearch.org.au/shop

08.01.2022 It's Zero Waste Week! Education Director Mandy is a climber in her other life and climbing ropes eventually have to be retired. They're no longer guaranteed to hold you if you fall. So rather than throw it away, she found a great solution, upcycle it into a door mat. Looks great and was really satisfying to make too. Every item we keep out of landfill is a win for the planet. #dolphinresearchinstitute #reducereuserecycle #zerowasteweek Waste Wise Mornington Peninsula

07.01.2022 Dolphin Calves , Christmas Auction and 150th Whale Added to Victoria's Catalogue. - https://mailchi.mp//help-us-build-a-community-who-cares-en

07.01.2022 Help us build a strong community that respects our dolphins. Help us to get thousands of vessels committed to "dolphin distancing". Make it normal to not deliberately approach them. Sign up at www.dolphinresearch.org.au. #dolphins #dolphinresearchinstitute #dolphinswims #jetskis #jetskifun #yachting #surflifesaving

06.01.2022 DRI's awesome bookeeper Jane has opened her own gorgeous business! Take a look at @daisy.makers for some stunning handcrafted fashion and homewares... Support local and enjoy a beautiful gift or spoil yourself... www.daisymakers.com.au

06.01.2022 A little bit about our wonderful community organisation, celebrating nearly 3 decades of protecting Victoria's living marine treasures

06.01.2022 FINAL ‘ I SEA I CHAT’ AMBASSADOR SESSION FOR 2020: What a challenging year this has been for all of us! First and foremost, we would like to express our absolute gratitude to our wonderful Council partners, ISIC Coordinators, parents, and most of all our fantastic ISIC Marine Ambassadors! Throughout this Covid journey, our online ISIC sessions have been a shining light that constantly inspired and motivated us all to keep on swimming! Our final session this week was a little... bittersweet as we have all had such a fantastic time getting to know each other more so than we would during a non-Covid year! We have also had so many wonderful sessions with a diverse range of presentations on topics such as Climate Change, plastic issues, evolution, and marine conservation campaigns, and most importantly every session focused on positive solutions and actions to empower Ambassadors to feel they could still help the planet during lockdown! We also had many fantastic guest speakers, and student-led presentations, and these sessions were so popular we will be incorporating them into future ISIC programs! #ISEAICHAT #ISIC #MarineAmbassadors #itstheirfuture #dolphinresearchinstitute See more

05.01.2022 Mystery of a Stranded Whale. Comedy Night to Celebrate 30 Years. - https://mailchi.mp//help-us-build-a-community-who-cares-en

05.01.2022 Book your spot for our FREE online conversation tomorrow! Our experienced panel of scientists and educators are looking forward to chatting with everyone soon

04.01.2022 We just wanted to touch base with all of our wonderful supporters and business donors to keep you updated with our 2020 Pre-Christmas Auction! We have had an overwhelming response with generous donations from our amazing businesses for our fundraiser. Many of you have been donating for many years, and we also welcome our new donors to the Pod! With Victorians facing these challenging times, we are waiting to launch the auction until early November.. We have the most amazing... items including luxury accommdation, fun experiences, beauty, dining and so much more.. Every dollar raised goes towards supporting our critical marine research and education programs for the protection of our dolphins, whales and bays... Please stay tuned for auction updates, and if you can support all of our local businesses doing it tough at the moment.. We are looking forward to bring you such a postive event and some fabulous things to enjoy after lockdown! #shoplocal #isiccommunities #dolphinresearchinstitute

04.01.2022 HAVE YOUR SAY ON VICTORIA'S CONTAINER DEPOSIT SCHEME BY NOVEMBER 30: As we ease out of Covid restrictions and start travelling around to visit Victorian destinations for work and holidays it has never been more important to have your say on what YOU would like Victoria's future container deposit scheme to look like! There is a short, and longer survey option on the submission page below, and this is your chance to voice your perspective on features of the scheme such as whe...re you would like to take your recyclable containers or have them collected, and how you would like to be reimbursed for your efforts. Please submit your perspectives on the following link by November 30 to contribute to reducing plastic waste and ensuring a cleaner environment for all! #cashforcontainers #victoriancontainerdepositscheme #reduceplasticwaste #cleaneroceans #dolphinresearchinstitute https://engage.vic.gov.au/container-deposit-scheme

04.01.2022 Happy 2021 from the Education Team!! In celebration of new beginnings here are a few cute little juveniles we spotted over the last week at @blairgowrieyachtsquadron #seahorse #pipefish #weedfish #squid

03.01.2022 Thank you and reflections for 2020 - https://mailchi.mp//help-us-build-a-community-who-cares-en

03.01.2022 We're thrilled to say that Mandy and Jess from our Education team and Birte from our board of directors have completed this training and are now Climate Reality leaders for our community. You can be sure there will be plenty of posts in the coming months that share their learning and leadership in this space. Climate change is one of the most important and challenging issues that we face and it's relevance to the marine environment that we all love cannot be underestimated. Congratulations and here's to the future. #LeadOnClimate #marineleadership #dolphinresearchinstitute #itstheirfuture #climateactionnow

03.01.2022 Thank you to @connectedtoportphillip for the wonderful video with DRI's passionate Director Jeff! Many of Victoria's living marine treasures aren't found anywhere else in the world Together we can all help to protect our unique bays and critters, no matter big or small... Visit our website now to see how you can get involved..

02.01.2022 Despite the current lock-down, our Two Bays Whale Project is still receiving valuable contributions from our coastal citizen scientists living on our coasts. Here's a particularly exciting contribution which was remarkably gathered from land-based photographer Nita Tonkin.