Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930:front:0:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 3228–8257

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, its employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense, or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using, or relying on any of the information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Acknowledgements
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water would like to acknowledge all those who contributed to the development of this Recovery Plan. This includes important direct contributions to the content of this plan and those who have provided knowledge and understanding on which this plan relies. Many experts have contributed from Commonwealth and State government agencies, research organisations, non-government organisations and the Threatened Species Scientific Committee. We extend our sincerest appreciation to every individual and organisation that has contributed and invested effort to support the recovery of this iconic and culturally significant species.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Australia and their continuing connection to land and sea, waters, environment, and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the lands we live and work on, their culture, and their Elders past and present.
Image credits
Cover page: Southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) along the southern coast of Australia. Photo © Joshua Smith

Contents
National Recovery Plan for the Southern Right Whale
Contents...............................................................ii
Glossary...............................................................1
Acronyms..............................................................4
Executive Summary.......................................................5
Status of taxon.......................................................5
Description, biology, distribution, and habitat...............................5
Threats.............................................................6
Recovery Plan vision and objectives.......................................7
Long-term vision...............................................7
Interim recovery objectives.......................................7
Recovery Plan actions............................................8
Criteria for success and performance of Recovery Plan.........................9
1 Background and policy context.........................................10
1.1 Review of Conservation Management Plan 2011-2021..................10
1.2 Policy and management context...................................12
1.2.1 Commonwealth legislation and management arrangements........12
1.2.2 State and territory legislation and management arrangements......15
1.2.3 International conventions and management arrangements.........17
1.3 Governance and coordination of the Recovery Plan.....................18
1.3.1 Australian Government....................................18
1.3.2 State and local management agencies.........................18
1.3.3 Industry and non-government organisations....................19
2 Biological, cultural, and ecological information.............................20
2.1 Taxonomy....................................................20
2.2 Cultural and community significance...............................20
2.2.1 Cultural significance of whales to Australian First Nations people....20
2.2.2 Community cultural significance.............................21
2.3 Historical whaling..............................................22
2.4 Biological information...........................................23
2.4.1 Morphology and physical characteristics.......................23
2.4.2 Demographics and reproduction.............................23
2.4.3 Mortality and survivorship.................................26
2.5 Species bioacoustics............................................26
2.6 Population structure............................................27
2.7 Abundance and population trends.................................27
2.8 Distribution and habitat occupancy.................................28
2.8.1. Seasonal distribution......................................29
2.8.2 Spatial distribution and re-occupation of historical habitat.........29
2.8.3 Coastal movements.......................................31
2.9 Migration, diet, and foraging grounds...............................31
2.10 Biologically important areas and habitat critical to survival..............33
2.10.1 Biologically Important Areas................................33
2.10.2 Habitat critical to the survival of the species....................34
3 Threats and threat prioritisation........................................38
3.1 Anthropogenic climate change and climate variability..................38
3.2 Entanglement.................................................39
3.2.1 Active fishing or aquaculture equipment.......................39
3.2.2 Marine debris...........................................41