ORRCA vice president Shona Lorigan said the census estimates there are 30,200 whales migrating along the NSW coast each year. 

“This is a remarkable recovery success story with only 100 counted back in 1980 when whaling was first stopped,” she said. 

Locations including Warden Head Lighthouse at Ulladulla are popular for community counters to gather and celebrate the mammals recovery following the cessation of whaling in 1979.

Final tallies are still being counted, however more than 175 whales were spotted off Warden Head Lighthouse on Sunday.