Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930:reg:2:p43
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 2 (pt 43/48)
Character Range: 182608–185693

southern right whale is an Endangered species under the EPBC Act due to severely reduced population numbers by historical commercial whaling in the 19th century (particularly mid 1800's), and was considered almost extinct in Australia in the first half of the 20th century (Bannister 1986, Dawbin 1986, Carroll et al. 2014). The intense over-exploitation of right whales has shaped their current population structure, demographic parameters, and rates of recovery in the different populations across their range (Harcourt et al. 2019). The western and eastern populations of southern right whales in Australia demonstrate varying patterns of recovery, with the eastern population recovering at a slower rate. Although both populations show signs of increase in abundance, current abundance levels remain very low compared to
pre-exploitation numbers (Carroll et al. 2014, Stamation et al. 2020).
The life history traits of southern right whales make them particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic threats. They have a long-life span, late sexual maturity, and low reproductive output of one calf every three years on average. These life history traits make it difficult to detect impacts from threats, other than direct mortality, over short time scales that may affect recovery. This consequently warrants a precautionary approach in the assessment of activities that may impact southern right whales, particularly in and adjacent to southern right whale HCTS and BIAs.

      3.12.2          Guidance for decision makers
Actions that will likely compromise the recovery of southern right whales and have a significant impact on the species must be managed to reduce risk, which includes, but is not limited to, actions that:
       * increase southern right whale mortality and may likely result in declines in population abundance,
       * disrupt the breeding cycle, such as by reducing the reproductive success of breeding southern right whale females,
       * reduce the area of occupancy in the species, including preventing the re-occupation of historic high use areas, and
       * adversely affect HCTS, potentially through decreasing the availability or quality of the habitat.
The main threats to the survival of the southern right whale are anthropogenic climate variability and change, entanglement in fishing gear, habitat degradation, anthropogenic underwater noise, and vessel strike. Some of the main associated actions that may present risk to southern right whales include installation of offshore infrastructure development (e.g., offshore renewable and oil and gas activities), shipping, and fisheries. The best available knowledge, including scientific advice and published information, should be used to inform environmental impact assessments for southern right whales. Current information on HCTS and BIAs for southern right whales must be used to inform planning, assessment, and decision-making of actions in the marine environment. This must address that female southern right whales have strong site fidelity to certain areas along the Australian coast