The Department of Conservation is appealing for people to report further sightings of a southern right whale seen in Golden Bay last Friday.
The whale was seen off Patons Rock, and could be the same mammal seen by a member of the public in Otu Bay, Durville Island, four days earlier.
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Canterbury DoC officer trained in using a biopsy dart rifle to collect skin samples was brought to the bay in response to the sighting, but the whale could not be spotted again from the air.
DoC is collecting identification information on New Zealand's southern right whale population, which is believed to number just 30 mammals.
DoC Nelson Marlborough marine specialist Andrew Baxter said that if the whale was seen again, an attempt would be made to get a biopsy sample.
A southern right was last seen in Golden Bay and Tasman Bay in 2001, he said.
Twenty sightings had been reported nationwide this year but only one biopsy was done, on a whale in Kaipara Harbour, Northland. Twelve genetic samples were taken from southern rights last year after DoC acted on tips from the public.
Southern right whales can be identified by the lack of a dorsal fin, a V-shaped blowhole spray, and white growths on their heads called callosities.
Mr Baxter said boaties spotting a whale should stay at least 50m away.
- NZPA
