Cetacean Research Centre WA Inc

(CETREC – pronounced SeaTrek)

Mission Statement

CETREC was established in 2014 to investigate and document the presence of cetacean species along the Western Australian coast, particularly those re-establishing following the era of commercial whaling.

The primary focus of this research is to assess the current status and health of cetacean populations, contribute to and expand existing knowledge of species found off the WA coast, and provide research findings to government bodies to support marine conservation and management efforts.

In 2024, the CETREC was incorporated as a non-profit Research Institute in WA (IARN A1045530U) and registered as a not-for-profit charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) in December 2024.

CETREC WA – Financial Policy Document

Gift Fund Statements:

  • will be used only for the principal purpose of the not-for-profit Research Institute.
  • all gifts and deductible contributions of money or property for that purpose are made to the Gift Fund
  • any money received because of such gifts or deductible contributions is credited to the Gift fund
  • and the Gift Fund does not receive any other money or property.

Winding up and revocation:

If the research institute is wound up or if the endorsement as a deductible gift recipient is revoked, any surplus assets of CETREC’s Gift Fund remaining after payment of liabilities attributed to it, shall be transferred to a charity with a similar charitable purpose to which tax deductible gifts can be made.

Policy not to act as a mere conduit:

Any allocation of funds or property to other persons or organisations will be made in accordance with the established purposes of CETREC WA and not be influenced by the preference of the donor. CETREC WA will not pass a donation of money or property to other organisations, bodies or persons as a condition of donation.

Marine Science Team

  • John Totterdell – Principal Researcher CETREC / Adjunct Academic, Flinders Uni
  • Hans Kemps – BSc, Biology (Hons.) Murdoch University WA
  • Dr Rebecca Wellard – PhD, BSc (Hons.) CMST, Curtin University, WA
  • Dr Isabella Reeves – PhD, BSc (Hons.) College of Science & Engineering, Flinders Uni

Research vessel – Shearwater (current AMSA survey – COS-75626-002)

CETREC research team:

  • Kim Norris
  • Pam Norris
  • Grace Chan
  • Codie Totterdell
  • Aimee Jan
  • Michelle Crisp
  • Hubert Crisp
  • David Lush
  • Nami Passeck
  • Samantha Crisp

Publications

See: Research Gate – John Totterdell