Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2005L01892:body:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2005L01892
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 0–2951

BLUE, FIN AND SEI WHALE

RECOVERY PLAN

2005 - 2010

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is listed as endangered, and fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and sei (Balaenoptera borealis) whales are listed as vulnerable under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). This plan outlines the measures necessary to ensure recovery of the Australian populations of these species and is set out in accordance with Part 13, Division 5 of the EPBC Act.

Objectives for recovery

The objectives are:
    * the recovery of populations of blue, fin and sei whales utilising Australian waters so that the species can be considered secure in the wild; and
    * to maintain the protection of blue, fin and sei whales from human threats.

For the purposes of this plan 'secure in the wild' is defined qualitatively, recognising that stricter definitions are not yet available, but will be refined and where possible quantified during the life of this plan by work currently underway and identified in the actions of this plan.

'Secure in the wild' with respect to these species means: a population with sufficient geographic range and distribution, abundance, and genetic diversity to provide a stable population over long time scales.

Criteria to measure performance of the plan against the objectives

It is not anticipated that the objectives for recovery will be achieved during the life of this plan. However, the following criteria can be used to measure the ongoing performance of this plan against the objectives:
   1. an indication of the population and recovery status of blue, fin and sei whale populations using Australian waters was developed; and
   2. domestic and international protection regimes that support the recovery of the species were maintained and where possible improved.

Species information

Blue, fin and sei whales are baleen whales (order Cetacea, family Balaenopteridae). All are wide ranging oceanic species and the current scientific view suggests that the species show a general migration pattern of summer in higher latitudes and wintering in warmer tropical waters.

General information on the biology, population status, distribution and habitat of humpback whales can be found on the Species Profiles and Threats Database – www.deh.gov.au/sprat. This information is regularly updated to ensure that it reflects the most recent research.

Blue whales
Blue whales are the largest living animals, growing to a length of over 30m and weighing up to 180 tonnes. While the taxonomy is unclear, it is currently accepted that there are three subspecies of blue whale. Two are 'true' blue whales; the northern hemisphere Balaenoptera musculus musculus and the southern hemisphere Balaenoptera musculus intermedia. The third is the 'pygmy' blue whale Balaenoptera musculus brevicauda known mainly from the southern Indian Ocean, the eastern South Atlantic and the western