Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L00289:body:0:p40
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L00289
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 137018–143605

Priority

Measuring and monitoring population recovery                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Very High

Action
Continue to obtain and refine population abundance and trends for the south-west population and develop firm population and rate of increase estimates for the south-east population. This can be implemented by the following projects:
     a)    Maintain long-term aerial survey and photo-identification monitoring of the south-west coastal region (Cape Leeuwin to Ceduna) on an annual basis.
     b)    Initiate long-term aerial survey and photo-identification monitoring of the south-east coastal region (Ceduna to Sydney including Tasmania) on an annual basis.
     c)    Build and populate a Right Whale Photo-Identification Catalogue.
     d)    Continue monitoring the population at Head of Bight.
     e)    Review the conservation status of southern right whales against threatened species listing criteria under the EPBC Regulations.
Recovery Targets Addressed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Threats to be Mitigated
1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A, B, C, D, E, F, G
Description
Long-term monitoring is required to understand ongoing population abundance estimates, trends, spatial distribution, and occupancy of coastal habitat. It is important to maintain an annual data series, given the variability in coastal visitation caused by a three year reproductive cycle, fluctuations in environmental or other conditions and to maintain consistency with existing data collection10. Monitoring should include detailed information on the reproductive output of southern right whales, quantitative information on the number and age class of right whales using coastal waters including aggregation areas, and broad-scale spatial distribution and habitat occupancy information. This information is necessary to review the conservation status of southern right whales under the EPBC Act.
Within the life of this plan
Measure of success: Recovery targets developed for each population based on population estimates, rates of recovery and habitat occupancy of each population.

Risks: The monitoring can be completed within the time frame of this plan. The lack of a long term data set for the south-east population may make it difficult to obtain an absolute measure of some parameters for that population within the life of this plan, but establishing the long-time series dataset will assist to ameliorate the problem in the life of the next plan and provide interim indications of use levels.

Likelihood of success: Moderate - High

Action Area B.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Priority

Investigating two-population model                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         High

Action
Carry out comprehensive genetic and photographic identification studies to further investigate differences between the south-eastern and south-western populations of southern right whales within Australian waters including:
    a)      determining the nature and degree of differences between the south-eastern and south-western populations and implications for population recovery
    b)      ascertaining rates of genetic interchange amongst the south-east and south-west populations
    c)       ascertaining geographic range and habitat occupancy for the two populations
    d)      improving the understanding of interchange between populations from Australia and New