Actions to achieve the objectivesActions to achieve the objectives

Actions to achieve the objectives

Monitor population status and assess habitat

1. Implement a program to measure population abundance, trends and recovery for Australian populations of humpback whales

• Included within this activity is the need to:
  • gather information on population structures using methodologies including genetic analyses, comparisons of photo identification and telemetry studies;
  • establish models for measuring recovery and species status, incorporating a range of indicators (e.g. current and pre-whaling population estimates, population structure, use of habitats etc); and
  • continue to collect long-term data sets using standardised survey methodologies for humpback whales in a statistically robust manner.

2. Implement a program to better define the characteristics (spatial, temporal, and physical) of calving, resting, feeding, and migratory areas

• Included within this activity is the need to:
  • determine the values and characteristics of important migratory pathways and aggregation areas (calving, resting, and feeding) particularly in areas where human use is likely to impact upon the species;
  • gather information on movements, migrations, and feeding grounds – e.g. through the use of satellite tracking and other survey methods; and
  • examine the historical and potential future use of humpback whale habitat with a view to defining these areas and assessing human use activities to ensure impacts are appropriately managed and regulated.

Protect the species from threats

3. Prevent commercial whaling and move to ban scientific whaling

• Australia should maintain its position on promoting high levels of protection for humpback whales in all relevant international agreements including the IWC, CITES, CMS, fisheries-related agreements, and Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM).
• Australia should continue to support a ban on directed take of humpback whales.

4. Protect habitat important to the survival of the species

• Ensure that in areas important to the survival of the species environmental assessment process and research activities are in place to determine the level of impact and threat of human activities, and implement management measures to ensure the ongoing recovery of the species. This should include, but not be limited to, the following actions:
  • assess and manage acoustic pollution – including the development and application of administrative guidelines under the EPBC Act such as the “Guidelines on the application of the EPBC Act to interactions between offshore seismic operations and larger cetaceans”;