Toni Nossiter, Walk For Whales

Walk For Whales Australia is a new initiative of Walks For Awareness, sponsored by Ocean Guardians. Each year, coinciding with the beginning of the East Coast northern whale migration, Walk For Whales will carry the message of whale conservation from Coffs Harbour to Byron Bay.

Walk For Whales will start at Coffs Harbour Jetty at 8am, Sunday 30th May and finish at Byron Bay Lighthouse at approximately 5pm Sunday 6th June, 8 days and 250kms later.

The gentle giants of our oceans need our protection now more than ever. These magnificent creatures, cruising, feeding and calving along our coast, are an integral part of our ocean loving lifestyle, environmental conscience and dreamtime. Celebrated in festivals around the continent, whales and humans have been interacting for generations.

Endearing themselves to our appreciation of their sublime beauty and majesty they have been saved from extinction through years of hard campaigning and impassioned lobbying for protection. Australia was one of the world's leaders in abolishing commercial whaling in the 70's and 80's. We have continued to be the launching point for scores of whale defence campaigns to Antarctica to stop Japan's "research" whaling in our territorial waters and whale sanctuary.

Despite our government's promises to stop the Japanese research program farce in Antarctica and assurances of taking them to court we are still fighting for the protection of all cetaceans, especially endangered, vulnerable and threatened species targeted by the Japanese and approved for lethal research by the IWC (International Whaling Committee).

Recent developments amongst the IWC nations, particularly Japan, Norway, Finland and New Zealand, are proposing the reintroduction of commercial whaling and continuing lethal research in Antarctica for at least another 5 years. There looks to be no end to the exploitation.

We can't afford to stop campaigning for them. Whale conservation is not seasonal. There are many ways you can show your appreciation of whales and protect their future. Become an active member or financial supporter of an ocean conservation non-profit group. Participate in online campaigning to petition and spread the message across the globe. Learn to rescue and assist at beach strandings and shark net trappings. Join local programmes, activities and research trips. Take a whale watching holiday during the annual migration seasons. Hold a whale film night...or start your own campaign.

The itinerary, contact details and further information can be found at www.walks.org.au. This year is the first official Australian Walk For Whales and Walks For Awareness invites everyone to participate to make this an exciting and dynamic annual event. Walks For Awareness is also in preparation for the 15,000km, 16 month Reef Walk Australia start/finish Airlie Beach June 2012.