Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633:body:0:p15
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 40648–43507

whales predominately occur in these regions from November to May44,45,71,7,92.
The Perth Canyon is a seasonally important area where pygmy blue whales feed on krill at depths of 200-300 metre in the canyon from January to May (with feeding peaking in the area from March to May). The number of blue whales in the Perth Canyon at any one time varies throughout the season, as well as between years depending on prevailing environmental conditions that in-turn determine the presence of their prey. Pygmy blue whales in the Perth Canyon predominantly feed on the krill Euphausia recurva92.
The Western area of the Great Australian Bight is considered a possible foraging area and a likely transit route for whales travelling between the Perth Canyon and Bonney upwelling.
The Bonney Upwelling describes an oceanographic process that regularly occurs along the continental slope from the Eastern Great Australian Bight to Western Bass Straight. Like the Perth Canyon, the distribution of blue whales at the Bonney Upwelling system and adjacent waters changes within a season, depending on the local prevalence of environmental conditions that are favourable to krill45.
Research to date has found that Pygmy blue whales occupy the western area of the Bonney Upwelling system in the Eastern Great Australian Bight and adjacent to the Kangaroo Island canyons from November and December. The first aerial survey of this area in 2003-04 found up to 30 blue whales feeding in this area44, but subsequent surveys have shown that relative abundance in this area is highly variable both between and within seasons.

Pygmy blue whales then move south-east to the Bonney Upwelling system off eastern South Australia and Victoria (e.g. between Robe, SA and Cape Otway, Vic). This occurs predominately between January to April, although the within-season distribution trends in Bass Strait are unknown45. Distribution and timing of blue whales in the Bonney Upwelling can vary and during November and December 2012, large numbers of blue whales were sighted in the eastern area of the Bonney Upwelling, just west of Bass Strait. Pygmy blue whales in the Bonney Upwelling feed on the krill Nyctiphanes australis44.
Outside of the recognised feeding areas, possible foraging areas for pygmy blue whales include the greater region around the Perth Canyon, off Exmouth and Scott Reef in Western Australia, in Bass Strait off Victoria and diving and presumably feeding at depth off the West coast of Tasmania (P. Gill pers. comm.). Evidence for feeding is based on limited direct observations or through indirect evidence, such as the occurrence of krill in close proximity of whales, or satellite tagged whales showing circling tracks. Anecdotal feeding areas include offshore of Eden and Merimbula, NSW (especially during October)20.
Antarctic Blue Whales
Antarctic blue whales