The industry-led initiative includes broadening the observation and collection of whale tracking information by having trained and fully accredited whale observers on seismic vessels and other offshore oil and gas facilities.

"Industry leaders, researchers and conservation groups are keen to see the establishment of an independent and publicly accessible database where whale observations and research can be collated and analysed," executive director of the Australian Petroleum, Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Mr Barry Jones, and chairman of the International Association of Geophysical Contractors (IAGC), Mr Paul Young said.

Mr Young added Deakin University had already developed an outstanding proposal for training whale observers following a request from the oil and gas industry,

"If industry is going to support the development of this training initiative, it is essential that government also provides support by establishing the independent data management regime to collate and analyse observer data nationally," he said. "Conservation of our large marine mammals and their environment is the responsibility of the whole community, including the users of the marine environment."

The whale migration season shortens the window of opportunities for offshore exploration in many regions, including the prospective Otway Basins, right around to the Carnarvon Basin in North-West Australia as well as Victoria.