Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2005L01892:body:0:p4
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2005L01892
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 7915–10905

not often found near coasts and the species is infrequently recorded in Australian waters, with records only occurring from Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland.

Habitat critical to the survival of blue, fin and sei whales

It is not currently possible to define habitat critical to the survival of blue, fin and sei whales. Due to the limited knowledge about the distribution and abundance of these species, little is currently known about the location and characteristics of these habitats. To date the best information relates to aggregation areas (in particular feeding areas) for blue whales. These areas can be considered important to the survival of blue whales as they seasonally support significant aggregations of whales, and those ecosystem processes on which blue whales rely.

Australian Antarctic waters are known to support feeding for all three species and should be considered as important to conserve. In Australian coastal waters, a number of areas are known to support aggregations of blue whales. Known feeding areas are listed in Table 1. Fin and sei whales have also been sighted in some of these areas but not enough information currently exists to suggest that they are important to the survival of these species. Significant aggregations of blue whales are also found at Geographe Bay in Western Australia, although the reasons for this are not currently known. Figure 1 illustrates the recognised aggregation areas for blue whales utilising Australian waters. It should be noted that the boundaries presented on the map are indicative only and there is inherent variability in the movements of the species.

Table 1: known feeding areas for blue whales within Australia's main Exclusive Economic Zone.
Location                                                          Feeding observed
    * Bonney upwelling, southeast SA to western Victorian waters  November to April
    * Duntroon Basin, SA                                          November to April
    * Perth Canyon off Rottnest Island, WA                        December to April

True blues appear to feed mainly, if not exclusively, in the Antarctic. Pygmy blues, however, are not generally found in the Antarctic, and appear to feed in more temperate latitudes. It is more than likely that Australian records of blue whales, almost entirely in summer, are of pygmy blue whales.

Management Practices

Domestic measures
In Australia, blue whales are listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act. Both fin and sei whales are listed as vulnerable under the Act. The EPBC Act established the Australian Whale Sanctuary and gives high levels of protection to cetaceans in Commonwealth waters. The Australian Whale Sanctuary encompasses the area of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) outside state waters and generally extends 200 nm from the coast, but further in some areas to cover the continental shelf and slope. It also includes the waters around the Australian Antarctic Territory