Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633:body:0:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 2842–6403

Recovery Objectives
Blue Whale Biology
Threats
Actions
1. Introduction
1.1 Review of the Blue, Fin and Sei Whale Recovery Plan (2005-2010)
1.2 Objectives and targets of the Conservation Management Plan for blue whales
Long-term recovery objective
Interim recovery objectives
Performance of the plan and progress towards long-term objectives
1.3 Defining population
2. Legal Framework
2.1. International Conventions and Agreements
2.2. National, State and Territory Legislation and Management Arrangements
National legislation
3. Governance
3.1. Interested and responsible agencies for the Plan
Australian Government
Industry, non-government organisations, research centres and community groups
State and territory governments
4. Science
4.1 The Biology, Status and Environmental Parameters
General biology
Distribution, migration and behaviour
Abundance and population trends
4.2 Biologically Important Areas for blue whale
4.3 Attributes to be Monitored
5. Threats
5.1 Description of Threats
5A Whaling
5B Climate Variability and Change
5C Noise Interference
5D Habitat Modification
5E Vessel Disturbance
5F Overharvesting of prey
5.2 Threat Prioritisation
6. Actions
6.1 Summary of Actions to be implemented
Previous and existing management actions
Existing research actions
Assessing and addressing threats
Enabling and measuring recovery
Cumulative Impacts
6.2. Implementation of the Conservation Management Plan
6.3.Reporting Process
7. References
List of Tables
Table 1. Summary of actions....................................................8
Table 2. Performance measures..................................................13
Table 3. Risk matrix template...................................................42
Table 4. Pygmy blue whale risk matrix............................................43
Table 5. Antarctic blue whale risk matrix...........................................44
Table 6. Summary of actions with interim objectives..................................45
Table 7. Key mechanisms and indicative costing to carry out priority actions.................56

List of Figures

Figure 1. Pygmy blue whale distribution...........................................25
Figure 2. Pygmy blue whale migration routes.......................................26

Executive Summary

Introduction
The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is currently listed as an endangered species under the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). There are two subspecies of blue whales that use Australian waters (including Australian Antarctic waters), the pygmy blue whale (B. m. brevicauda) and the Antarctic blue whale (B. m. intermedia). The Antarctic blue whale subspecies remains severely depleted from historic whaling and its numbers are recovering slowly. For the pygmy blue whale there is uncertainty in the numbers pre-exploitation, and their current numbers are not known.
A recovery plan for blue, fin and sei    whales was developed for the period 2005 to 2010. Post 2010 it was decided that a revised recovery plan solely for blue whales (including both subspecies) was needed to re-evaluate threats and establish actions for assisting the recovery of blue whale populations using Australian waters.  This plan conforms to the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) 'Conservation Management Plan' (Plan) format, while also meeting the requirements of a recovery plan under the EPBC Act.

Recovery Objective
The long-term recovery objective for blue whales is to minimise anthropogenic threats to allow for their