Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633:body:0:p7
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 17886–20957

scale. There are no robust abundance estimates for the Australian populations of pygmy blue whales.
Where appropriate, this Plan addresses the two subspecies separately. This includes outlining the current status of threats, and the prioritisation of recovery actions for the 2015-2025 period.

1.1 Review of the Blue, Fin and Sei Whale Recovery Plan (2005-2010)
A review of the Recovery Plan for the Blue, Fin and Sei Whale (2005-2010) was undertaken in 2010. The review recommended an update of the recovery plan for blue whales given the persistence of threats such as international whaling and climate change.
The review identified that blue whales are listed as 'Endangered' in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cetacean Red List (2008) and that they remain in very low numbers both globally and also in Australian waters. Previously identified actions of the Blue, Fin and Sei Whale Recovery Plan were found to be still relevant including measuring and monitoring population recovery, characterising habitat use, and protecting blue whales from anthropogenic threats.
The review found that blue whales generally inhabit offshore waters and that this imposes difficulties for the collection of data relevant to their conservation. The migration patterns of blue whales are not well understood but appear to be highly diverse. Some populations may be resident year-round in habitats of high productivity, while others undertake long migrations to high-latitude feeding grounds. The extent of migrations and the components of the populations that undertake them are poorly known.
The review also found that many actions proposed in the plan were appropriately delivered. However, due to the inherently low numbers of blue whales in Australian waters, it was difficult to estimate population abundance and trends and therefore an accurate determination of their status or level of recovery remained challenging. It also confirmed the value of research and its role in contributing to conservation and management measures.
Recommendations included within the review were:
       * Increased focus on photo-identification, to facilitate use of mark-recapture methods to improve estimates of blue whales using identified habitats;

       * Conducting satellite tagging studies to investigate whale migratory paths;

       * Continued non-lethal collection of population data in collaboration with the IWC;

       * Conducting research to better define potential impacts of climate change including prey depletion in recognition of the dependency of blue whales on krill;

       * Direct management and research focusing on areas of high use and importance to blue whales, due to the increase of offshore industry and associated vessel traffic in those areas;

       * Improving and maintaining the stranding database for all threatened whale species;

       * Maintaining a strong anti-whaling stance on all threatened whale species in Australian waters;

       * Improving the management of threatening processes by continuing to support