Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930:front:0:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00930
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 27971–31164

(Jönsson 1997). Energy demands are greatest for breeding females due to the cost associated with gestation and lactation, and they require larger energy stores than males and non-pregnant females.
In Australian coastal waters, southern right whales are typically engaged in reproductive behaviours and do not feed, such that their energy stores decline. Environmental and anthropogenic stressors may further compound the energetic stress and reduced body condition of the whales (Christiansen et al. 2020). Consequently, it is important to protect the biologically important behaviours (e.g., reproduction, foraging, migration) that southern right whales undertake, and the Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) within which they engage in these life critical functions from anthropogenic threats and stressors.

      Recovery Plan vision and objectives

Long-term vision
The long-term vision for the recovery of the southern right whale is that the population has increased in size to a level that the conservation status has improved, and the species no longer qualifies for listing as threatened under any of the EPBC Act listing criteria.
Due to intense historical exploitation of southern right whales and the species' life history characteristics, any population recovery to, or near, pre-exploitation levels will likely be a long process (i.e., multi-decadal). Consequently, achieving the long-term vision for southern right whales utilising Australian waters is also likely to occur over this timeframe.

Interim recovery objectives
Recognising the multi-decadal period over which the recovery of southern right whales is likely to occur, the following interim recovery objectives have been set for a shorter period relevant to the species (e.g., 10 years).
Interim objective 1: Current levels of Commonwealth and State legislative and management protection for southern right whales are implemented, maintained, or improved, so threats continue to be managed and reduced over the life of the plan.
Interim objective 2: Anthropogenic threats are managed consistent with ecologically sustainable development principles to facilitate recovery of southern right whales.
Interim objective 3: Population dynamics, including demographics, distribution, residency, and coastal movement across the species range are monitored and quantified using robust, standardised, best-practice methodology to assess population recovery.
Interim objective 4: The population structure of southern right whales in Australian waters is clearly characterised, including the level of interchange of individuals among coastal reproductive areas, to evaluate the degree to which the western and eastern populations are separate populations and inform the degree of connectivity with other southern right whale populations (e.g., New Zealand).
Interim objective 5: Capability of First Nation Australians, research, citizen science, and general community groups is improved to assist in addressing recovery actions of southern right whales in Australia.

Recovery Plan actions
The following actions in Table 1 aim to achieve the interim recovery objectives (section 4.2) within a short-term period of ten years. Key