Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930:reg:1:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 4/10)
Character Range: 45228–48264

accredited by the Commonwealth Minister responsible for the administration of the EPBC Act. This Recovery Plan was made under Part 13 s269 of the EPBC Act, and it is a legal requirement to 'not act inconsistently' with the objectives and specific actions outlined in the Recovery Plan.
Significant Impact Guidelines on Matters of National Environmental Significance

The EPBC Act Significant Impact Guidelines 1.1 – Matters of National Environmental Significance 2013, provide overarching guidance on determining whether an action is likely to have a significant impact on a listed threatened species. Under Part 3 section 18 of the EPBC Act it is an offence to undertake an action that will have a significant impact on listed threatened species unless approved by the Minister under Part 9.

Interaction between offshore seismic exploration and whales

The EPBC Act Policy Statement 2.1 – Interaction between offshore seismic exploration and whales: Industry Guidelines (2008) (EPBC Act Policy Statement 2.1) provides practical standards to minimise the risk of acoustic impairment to whales in vicinity of seismic survey operations. It also provides a framework and practical standards that minimises the risk of biological consequences from acoustic disturbance from seismic survey sources to whales in BIAs (e.g., reproduction, resting areas or confined migratory routes or feeding areas) or during critical behaviours (e.g., reproduction, feeding, and resting).
Marine Bioregional Plans

Marine bioregional plans have been prepared under section 176 of the EPBC Act for the South-west, North-west, North, and Temperate East marine regions in Commonwealth waters around Australia. Each Marine Bioregional Plan describes the marine environment and conservation values of the region, identifies, and characterises the pressures affecting these conservation values, and identifies regional priorities and outlines strategies to address them. Southern right whales are identified as a regional priority in the Marine bioregional plan for the South-west Marine Region as part of this process. While not a bioregional plan, the South-east marine region profile also identifies that southern right whales are a protected species known to occur in the region.
World Heritage Areas
Australia's World Heritage Properties are protected under the EPBC Act, which ensures an assessment process for proposed actions of significant impacts on the World Heritage values of a declared world heritage property is undertaken. The southern right whale is a key listed value under Criterion (x) of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area.
Commonwealth Marine Park Management Plans
Under the EPBC Act, the Director of National Parks is responsible for managing Commonwealth marine parks. These marine parks are managed through management plans made under the EPBC Act to provide for the protection and conservation of biodiversity and other natural, cultural and heritage values of the parks. Management plans allow for management actions including control of