Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633:body:0:p41
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 128084–133301

Important Areas                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Pygmy                                                                                   High
Antarctic                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    High
Action
1. Identify Biologically Important Areas especially feeding and breeding areas.
2. Identify migratory pathways between breeding and feeding grounds.
3. Assess timing and residency within Biologically Important Areas.
Recovery Targets addressed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Threats to be mitigated
2-1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          An improved understanding will allow for better mitigation of threats A, B, C, D, E, F
Description
The effective conservation management of blue whales is informed by knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution of blue whales and identification of their Biologically Important Areas. Blue whales range over very large areas and therefore investigating distribution and habitat use over large geographic scales will be important in identifying feeding and breeding areas.
Within the life of this plan
Measure of success: A robust description of the temporal and spatial distribution of blue whales including the delineation and characterisation of Biologically Important Areas.
Risks: Comprehensive research will be difficult given the wide distribution and relatively low numbers in most regions throughout their range. Given this, all of the research Actions proposed above may not be completed during the lifetime of this plan, especially those pertaining to Antarctic blue whales.
Likelihood of success: Moderate

Cumulative Impacts
For the conservation status of both subspecies to improve so that they no longer meet the criteria for threatened species listing under the EPBC Act, the cumulative impacts of the above listed threats should also be considered.

6.2. Implementation of the Conservation Management Plan
The recovery of the two blue whale subspecies using Australian waters is anticipated to take longer than the 10 year period of this plan. A plan should remain in place until blue whales have improved to a level that the conservation status of both subspecies no longer meets the criteria for threatened species listing under the EPBC Act. This would allow the species to be removed from the threatened species list.
The cost of this plan will be met through various direct and indirect funding providers. These include Commonwealth, state and territory governments, non-government organisations such as marine conservation groups and research organisations, and marine based industries. Key mechanisms and indicative costs to carry out some of the priority actions are outlined below. Costing of other specific actions will be determined at the time of the activity.

Table 7. Key mechanisms and indicative costing to carry out some of the priority actions for blue whales under the Conservation Management Plan for the Blue Whale
Actions                                                                                                             Mechanisms to achieve actions                                                                                                            PYGMY                                                                        ANTARCTIC
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Indicative Cost                                                              Indicative Cost

A: Assessing and addressing threats
A1: Maintain and improve existing legal and management protection                                                       * Continue or improve existing national and state legislative and management actions to minimise anthropogenic threats               Core government business                                                     Core government