Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633:body:0:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 20659–23838

in those areas;

       * Improving and maintaining the stranding database for all threatened whale species;

       * Maintaining a strong anti-whaling stance on all threatened whale species in Australian waters;

       * Improving the management of threatening processes by continuing to support research that better defines blue whale habitat use (e.g. migratory, pathways, feeding areas etc.); and

       * Continued data collection using standardised survey methodologies, and contribution of data to long-term data sets.

1.2 Objectives and targets of the Conservation Management Plan for blue whales

Long-term recovery objective

Minimise anthropogenic threats to allow for their conservation status to improve so that they can be removed from the EPBC Act threatened species list.

Interim recovery objectives

While acknowledging that the long-term recovery objective is unlikely to be achieved over the ten year period of this Plan (due to their highly depleted status and slow reproductive rate of blue whales), the following interim recovery objectives and associated targets have been set for this Plan. The effectiveness of this Plan will be measured, and progress towards long-term objectives assessed, on the basis of how well the following targets for interim recovery objectives are met.
The first two interim objectives assist in assessing the conservation status of the pygmy and Antarctic blue whales in Australian waters, and the remaining two relate to legal and management protection, and to minimising recognised threats.
Interim objective 1: The conservation status of blue whale populations is assessed using cost effective and robust methodology.
       Target 1-1: A robust and cost effective monitoring technique to estimate the abundance of pygmy blue whales in Australian waters is developed.
       Target 1-2: The abundance and conservation status of each of the two known populations of pygmy blue whales in Australian waters is determined using the method developed in Target 1-1.
       Target 1-3: The abundance and status of the Antarctic Blue Whale subspecies in Australian and Antarctic waters is measured and monitored.

Interim objective 2: The spatial and temporal distribution, identification of biologically important areas, and population structure of blue whales in Australian waters is described.
       Target 2-1: The spatial and temporal distribution, including the identification of biologically important areas, are identified for all blue whales using Australian waters.
       Target 2-2: The population structure (e.g. using genetics and acoustics) of Antarctic and pygmy blue whales using Australian waters is described.
Interim objective 3: Current levels of legal and management protection for blue whales are maintained or improved and an appropriate adaptive management regime is in place.
       Target 3-1: Domestic and international legislation and other agreements that support the recovery of Australian blue whales are maintained and, wherever possible, improved.
Interim objective 4: Anthropogenic threats are demonstrably minimised.
       Target 4-1: Robust and adaptive management regimes leading to