Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930:reg:5:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 5 (pt 2/11)
Character Range: 205075–212348

the species, or BIAs. All management actions should be informed by current information on southern right whale spatial and temporal distribution, BIAs, HCTS and current and emerging threats.
Within the period of this plan
Measure of success
   1. Australia continues to implement domestic legislation and management actions to protect southern right whales, and actively promote appropriate protection for, and management of, southern right whales in international bodies (e.g., IWC).
   2. Management decisions are based on the best available published and peer-reviewed scientific evidence.

Risks: There are inconsistent approaches for mitigating the impacts of threats to southern right whales and/or reduced level of communication between Commonwealth and State agencies and with management and/or regulatory responsibilities and industry. This risk may be mitigated by sustained communication between Commonwealth and State agencies and industry through annual or greater periodic meetings and relevant published guidance material.
Likelihood of success: Moderate to High.

Action Area A2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Priority
Address habitat degradation impacts from coastal and offshore marine infrastructure developments within the species' range.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Very High
Action
   1. Coastal and offshore development actions are assessed according to principles of ecological sustainable development to ensure the risk of injury, auditory impairment and/or disturbance to southern right whales is minimised.
   2. Baseline surveys and monitoring undertaken during activity implementation are conducted in accordance with best practice standards and guidelines to ensure standardised datasets are obtained and suitable to inform environmental management decision making that can reduce the risk of threats to southern right whales.
   3. Current information on species' occurrence, particularly in HCTS, BIAs, and historic high use areas, are used to inform planning, assessment, and decision-making on marine infrastructure development actions.
Interim objectives addressed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Threats to be mitigated
1, 2, 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8
Description
Actions related to marine infrastructure development can result in the degradation of HCTS for reproduction, and disturbance to southern right whales in these areas may disrupt key life history behaviours. Southern right whales demonstrate high site fidelity to important reproductive areas used for the critical biologically important behaviours of mating, calving, and nursing. To minimise degradation of these habitats and ensure southern right whales continue to utilise HCTS, proposed actions need to consider habitat requirements of southern right whales and BIAs at early stages of planning. Marine infrastructure development projects should have effective measures and mitigation implemented to address identified threats to southern right whales, and primarily consider avoiding undertaking activities in HCTS during southern right whale calving season. Cumulative impacts of development undertaken in HCTS should be considered in the assessment of activities to ensure there is continued use of HCTS and BIAs for southern right whales.
Within the period of this plan
Measure of success
    1. All