Rolex Supports Sanctuary For World’s Largest Population Of Humpback Whale Mothers
In a remote region off Australia’s northwestern coast, Rolex and a team of marine biologists are working to protect a sanctuary for humpback whales and the surrounding marine ecosystem.
In case you’ve been curious, Rolex has long been captivated by the mysteries of the ocean's depths. Who could forget the brand's historic collaboration with the bathyscaphe Trieste, which carried a Rolex watch on its descent to the Mariana Trench – 10,916 metres below the surface – in 1960? Today, that passion has evolved to prioritise the global marine ecosystem, focusing on research and protection.
In 1960, the Trieste, piloted by Jacques piccard and Don walsh, descended to the Mariana trench. Affixed to the outside of the bathyscaphe is the experimental Deep Sea Special watch.
This commitment is exemplified by the Perpetual Planet Initiative, launched in 2019, which supports individuals and organisations dedicated to safeguarding our ecosystems. A key player in this initiative is the non-profit Mission Blue, founded by renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle, which designates ecologically endangered marine areas as Hope Spots to promote their legal protection.
Exmouth Gulf, a large, sheltered bay home to unique mangrove ecosystems, nutrient-giving salt flats, and an ancient fossilised coral reef. The Gulf is also known as “Ningaloo’s nursery” because the young of many species grow up here including many endangered species.
The latest Hope Spot is Exmouth Gulf and Ningaloo Coast in Western Australia. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features one of the world’s longest near-shore coral reefs, making the protection of the Gulf crucial for local wildlife and biodiversity. It serves as a sanctuary for the world’s largest population of humpback whale mothers, who come here to nurse their young. Since whaling was banned in 1978, the humpback population in the area has reporteldy surged from 300 to over 300,000.
The tail of a humpback whale in Exmouth Gulf, Australia. Humpback whales can live for 80 to 90 years and have some of the longest migrations of any mammals.
In 2019, it was designated a Mission Blue Hope Spot, acknowledging its ecological significance and encouraging legal protection. Leading the effort is Australian marine biologist Ben Fitzpatrick, who is committed to emphasising the importance of Exmouth Gulf in the region's marine ecology.
Ben Fitzpatrick is the director of Oceanwise Australia and a Mission Blue Hope Spot Champion. Fitzpatrick hopes to highlight how biodiverse Exmouth Gulf is and how inextricably linked it is to the Ningaloo Coast. He is spearheading the growing movement for the expansion of the area’s protective borders
The Gulf’s diverse habitats – including salt flats, seagrass beds, macro-algal reefs, hard corals, and filter-feeder-dominated seabeds – support nearly 2,000 species of fauna. Despite the UNESCO protection of the Ningaloo Coast, the Gulf has been overlooked, making it vulnerable to industrial encroachment.
Soft coral species and a sea apple at an unsurveyed site in Exmouth Gulf. The extensive, sheltered waters of the gulf and its variety of ecosystems are home to an exceptionally high level of biodiversity.
While the Gulf’s isolation at Australia’s northwestern tip has helped preserve its biodiversity, it has also hindered thorough surveys. With support from Rolex’s Perpetual Planet Initiative, Fitzpatrick’s Oceanwise team has explored some of these challenging areas.
Add to bookmark A pair of olive sea snakes mating in Exmouth Gulf, Australia. The entire life cycle of the species takes place under water, including mating. This usually happens on the sea floor but often lasts so long that they have to swim up for air.
“Most of the time, the Gulf is quite murky and inaccessible, so people don’t realise that beneath the surface lie some of the most incredible and unique marine ecosystems on the planet. It needs protection. The environment speaks for itself, and all I’m doing is providing a voice,” he states.
Ben Fitzpatrick returns to the boat after surveying a reef in Exmouth Gulf. Oceanwise Australia is a specialised environmental sciences organization conducting research, management, conservation and monitoring of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Hope is on the horizon. In 2021, authorities committed to establishing a marine park to conserve biodiversity in the Gulf’s eastern and southern regions.
Visit here to learn more about the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative