Scientists are attaching tiny cameras to humpback whales to track their underwater feeding habits and see how they could be affected by shrinking sea ice.

The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) has been placing electronic tags with cameras and motion sensors on to the giant mammals in the Gerlache Strait, off the Antarctic Peninsula.

Lead whale scientist Ari Friedlaender said: "Once we have an idea about where the whales feed, how often, where they go and rest, we can use this to inform policy and management to protect these whales and their ecosystem."

The information from the cameras will help to determine how any change in the population of their main food, krill, through climate change, commercial fishing or ocean acidification will impact whales in future.

Image: The footage shows humpback whales spend their day resting and socialising, feeding at night

Mr Friedlaender added: "We have some wonderful data on different feeding strategies, from rolling lunges near the surface, to bubble net feeding, to deep foraging dives lunging through dense patches of krill.


"We have been able to show that whales spend a great deal of time during the days socialising and resting and then feeding largely throughout the evening and night time."

The cameras are attached on suction cups and last for up to two days before falling off and being retrieved by scientists.

WWF Australia, which helped to fund the cameras, said the work would enable habitats to become more resilient and thrive in the future.

Chris Johnson, WWF Australia ocean science manager, said: "Growing human impacts such as climate change and increasing krill fishing overlapping in their critical feeding areas need to be managed carefully."

Longer-term electronic tags were also placed on smaller Antarctic minke whales.