Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L00289:body:0:p37
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L00289
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 117311–123300

may require further assessment under the EPBC Act. Although there is increasing body of science assessing the behavioural response of whales to anthropogenic sound, knowledge in this area is still limited. In particular, very little is known about the sensitivity of southern right whales to anthropogenic noise and so there is a need to better understand:
      *        acoustic properties of preferred aggregation areas
      *        southern right whale responses to sound, including vessel noise and seismic surveys
      *        overlap between southern right whale distribution and potential sources of significant anthropogenic sound.
Within the life of this plan
Measure of success: An improved understanding of the exposure and behavioural responses of nursing and migrating southern right whales to various forms of anthropogenic sound.

Risks: Due to the difficulties in assessing the long-term impacts that sound may have on aspects such as fitness and habitat occupancy, definitive statements about life-history effects may still not be possible.

Likelihood of success: Moderate

Action Area A.3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Priority

Reducing commercial fishing entanglements                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Very High

Action
Minimise the risk of entanglements by:
    a)    where necessary, exploring with the crustacean and cephalopod (primarily octopus) fishing industries the option to develop codes of conduct that minimise interactions between commercial fishers and southern right whales
    b)    improve reporting for entanglement incidents for all fisheries likely to interact with southern right whales
    c)    investigate alternative fishing techniques and technologies to reduce the risk of entanglement.
Recovery Targets Addressed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Threats to be Mitigated
1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       A
Description
At least five entanglements since the 1980s are likely to be a result of interactions with crustacean fishing operations and the use of pots in operations for octopus fishing is growing, and it is possible that other incidents have not been reported. These industries operate primarily within state waters and are managed under state legislation, however any industry that wishes to export product must also obtain a Wildlife Trade Operation (WTO) approval and any interaction with cetaceans triggers provisions under the EPBC Act. WTO approvals last for a maximum of three years providing an opportunity for the Australian Government to work with state governments and industry to develop appropriate mechanisms for minimising entanglements.

A code of conduct for industry (potentially based on examples of rock lobster fisheries from Western Australia and Victoria) aimed at reducing entanglements should assist. The code may also consider adopting strategies to reduce entanglements in commercial crustacean fishing industries developed in North America. To successfully measure the implementation of the code of conduct, improved reporting of entanglements will be required. This will also allow an appropriate disentanglement response to be implemented when required.
Within the life of this plan
Measure of success: Codes of conduct developed by