Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00291:body:0:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00291
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 2900–5970

the intention of this plan to address any of these processes that are natural rather than anthropogenic through active intervention.

Actions to Achieve the Objective/s  (270(2)(c))

Given the absence of significant current anthropogenic threats, the only action to be identified in this plan is to monitor the Australian populations of the Sub-antarctic Fur seal and the Southern Elephant seal to:

    * determine the rate of population change and population size by undertaking scientifically robust, regular and repeatable population surveys; and

    * identify any emerging actual impacts that will have an immediate affect on the species and thus on its recovery, and to facilitate the development of appropriate responses.

Management Practices (EPBC Reg. 7.11(2)(b))

Management practices and measures other than those contained in this plan have been developed and are being implemented through, inter alia, various Heard Island and Macquarie Island Management Plans, Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) procedures and protocols, the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) Code of Conduct.

In addition, the EPBC Act provides protection for the Sub-antarctic Fur seal, and the Southern Elephant seal through making it an offence to kill, injure, take, trade, keep, or move any member of a listed threatened and/or marine species in a Commonwealth area without a permit.

Criteria to Measure Performance of the Plan against the Objective/s (270(2)(b))

The objective of this plan will be attained in respect to the:

    * Sub-antarctic Fur seal when the breeding population of the Sub-antarctic Fur seal exhibits a sustained increase in size, and if future major threats to the population emerge, that measures to minimise or mitigate them are identified and implemented as a priority; and

           Southern Elephant seal when the population is stable or has demonstrably increased for three generations (24 years), and if future major threats to the population emerge, that measures to minimise or mitigate them are identified and implemented as a priority.

Habitats Critical to the Survival of the Species and its Protection (270(2)(d))

Important habitat for the Sub-antarctic Fur seal and the Southern Elephant seal within the Australian jurisdiction includes:

    * terrestrial breeding colonies and resting and moulting grounds on Sub-antarctic islands;

    * waters adjacent to breeding colonies; and

    * important feeding waters.

In the Australian region, important breeding sites are Macquarie Island for the Sub-antarctic Fur seal and Macquarie, Heard and possibly Maatsuyker Islands for the Southern Elephant seal.

Macquarie and Heard Islands, and their surrounding waters, are afforded high levels of protection through, inter alia, their listing as World Heritage sites, their status as Marine Protected Areas under the EPBC Act, and in the case of Macquarie Island, additional protection afforded by Tasmanian legislation.   While such protection arrangements remain in place, this habitat is protected for use by