Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633:body:0:p34
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01633
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 92689–97791

affect at population level
                + Moderate: population recovery stalls or reduces
                + Major: population declines
                + Catastrophic: population extinction
The level of risk and the associated priority for action are shown in Table 3 using the following criteria:

       * Very high: immediate additional mitigation action required;
       * High: additional mitigation action and an adaptive management plan required, the precautionary principle should be applied;
       * Moderate: obtain additional information and develop additional mitigation action if required; and
       * Low: monitor the threat occurrence and reassess threat level if likelihood or consequences change.
Table 3. Risk matrix template
Likelihood of occurrence  Consequences
No long term effect       Minor         Moderate  Major      Catastrophic
Almost certain            Low           Moderate  Very high  Very high     Very high
Likely                    Low           Moderate  High       Very high     Very high
Possible                  Low           Moderate  High       Very high     Very high
Unlikely                  Low           Low       Moderate   High          Very high
Rare or Unknown           Low           Low       Moderate   High          Very high

The overall risk matrix for both subspecies is shown in Tables 4 and 5.

Table 4. Pygmy blue whale risk matrix

Likelihood of occurrence (relevant to species)  Consequences
No long term effect                             Minor         Moderate                                                  Major                           Catastrophic
Almost certain                                                    * Commercial fisheries or aquaculture equipment           * Seismic surveys*
                                                                  * Shipping noise*
                                                                  * Industrial noise*
Likely                                                            * Infrastructure/ coastal development

Possible                                                          * Marine debris                                           * Vessel collisions             * Climate variability and change
                                                                  * Aircraft noise
                                                                  * Whale watching
                                                                  * Acute Chemical Discharge (oil or condensate spill)
Unlikely                                                          * Chronic chemical pollution (toxins)                                                     * Whaling ∆

Rare or unknown                                                                                                             * Overharvesting of prey ∆

* Given the behavioural impacts of noise on Pygmy blue whales are largely unknown, a precautionary approach has been taken regarding assignation of possible consequences.
∆ threat occurs outside Australia.

Table 5. Antarctic blue whale risk matrix

Likelihood of occurrence (relevant to species)  Consequences
No long term effect                             Minor                  Moderate                                                  Major                          Catastrophic
Almost certain                                                             * Commercial fisheries or aquaculture equipment

Likely                                                                     * Shipping noise*
Possible                                                                   * Marine debris                                           * Vessel collisions            * Climate variability and change
                                                                                                                                     * Seismic surveys*
Unlikely                                            * Whale watching       * Chronic chemical pollution (toxins)                                                    * Whaling ∆
                                                    *  Aircraft noise      * Industrial noise
                                                                           * Acute chemical discharge (oil or condensate spill)
                                                                           * Infrastructure/ coastal development
Rare or unknown                                                                                                                      * Overharvesting of prey∆

* Given the behavioural impacts of noise on Antarctic blue whales are largely unknown, a precautionary approach has been taken regarding assignation of possible consequences.
∆ threat occurs outside Australia.

6. Actions

6.1 Summary of Actions to be implemented
A summary of relevant actions identified as part of the plan is displayed below (Table 6). The threat prioritisation carried out as part of this plan identified the threats with highest priority for action. Only actions that address the most significant threats (rated as