July onwards is Tasmania’s whale season and whale spotters are out in force, reporting numerous sightings of southern right and humpback whales.

The ocean giants are on their way north from Antarctic feeding grounds to breeding areas off Queensland and Western Australia.

Wildlife biologist Rachael Alderman told ABC there have been sightings in Great Oyster Bay, Tasman Peninsula, Recherche Bay and Fredrick Henry Bay.

Sighting have increased in Tasmania including in areas such as the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Tamar River, where there is high vessel traffic.

Some of the southern right whales will stay to give birth in Tasmanian waters and can be spotted throughout the May to August whale migration season before they return south for the Antarctic summer.

Catching a glimpse of these spectacular creatures is possible from boats and sometimes from the shore.

The Department of Primary Industry Parks and Environment provides guidelines for safe and responsible whale watching, including keeping to a recommended distance and adopting a slow speed.

You can assist with information gathered each year and whale sightings in Tasmanian waters should be reported to the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment’s 24-hour Whale Hotline to enable further study of the migratory behaviour of these amazing creatures.