Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L00289:body:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2013L00289
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 9583–12677

removed from the threatened species list under the EPBC Act.

Interim Recovery Objectives (2011–2021)
Recognising that the long-term recovery objective is unlikely to be achieved during the life of this plan, the following interim recovery objectives have been set for the period covered by the plan. The first three interim objectives assist in assessing the conservation status of the south-eastern and south-western populations against the EPBC Act listing criteria, and the remaining two relate to legal and management protection, and to minimising recognised threats.

    1. Demonstrate that the number of southern right whales occurring off south-west Australia (nominally south-west Australian population) is increasing at or near the maximum biological rate.

    2. Demonstrate that the number of southern right whales occurring off south-east Australia (nominally south-east Australian population) is showing signs of increase.

    3. The nature and degree of difference between the south-eastern and south-western Australian populations of southern right whales is clearly understood.

    4. Current levels of legal and management protection for southern right whales are maintained or improved and an appropriate adaptive management regime is in place.

    5. Anthropogenic threats are demonstrably minimised.
Biology
Southern right whales are medium to large black (or less commonly grey-brown) baleen whales. They can be recognised by the lack of a dorsal fin, rotund body shape, and whitish callosities (patches of keratinised skin colonised by cyamids - small crustaceans) on the head. Southern right whales reach a maximum length of approximately 17.5 metres and a weight of around 80 tonnes with mature females slightly larger than males.

Nineteenth century whaling drastically reduced southern right whale numbers. An estimated 55 000 to 70 000 whales were present in the southern hemisphere in the late 1700s. By the 1920s there may have been fewer than 300 individuals remaining throughout the southern hemisphere. Detailed individual-based information collected from populations of southern right whales in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Southern Africa suggest the global population now exceeds 12 000 whales. Population trend data are also available for Australia, Argentina and Southern Africa that indicate these populations are currently increasing at approximately seven per cent each year92. The population is thought to have begun to recover following protection in 1935, but illegal Soviet whaling in the 1960s is estimated to have removed over half the remaining population and delayed recovery. Subsequent protection measures have seen the population increase to the point where the most recent estimate for the total Australian population is approximately 3500 individuals. However, it is important to note that the increase has not been consistent across the population range and some population segments remain at greater risk than others.

Southern right whales occur only in the southern hemisphere. They have a circumpolar distribution between