 Southern Elephant seal when the population is stable or has demonstrably increased for three generations (24 years), and if future major threats to the population emerge, that measures to minimise or mitigate them are identified and implemented as a priority.

Habitats Critical to the Survival of the Species and its Protection (270(2)(d))

Important habitat for the Sub-antarctic Fur seal and the Southern Elephant seal within the Australian jurisdiction includes:

• terrestrial breeding colonies and resting and moulting grounds on Sub-antarctic islands;

• waters adjacent to breeding colonies; and

• important feeding waters.

In the Australian region, important breeding sites are Macquarie Island for the Sub-antarctic Fur seal and Macquarie, Heard and possibly Maatsuyker Islands for the Southern Elephant seal.

Macquarie and Heard Islands, and their surrounding waters, are afforded high levels of protection through, inter alia, their listing as World Heritage sites, their status as Marine Protected Areas under the EPBC Act, and in the case of Macquarie Island, additional protection afforded by Tasmanian legislation. While such protection arrangements remain in place, this habitat is protected for use by both seal species. Protection for Maatsuyker Island is the jurisdictional responsibility of the Tasmanian government.

Major Benefits to Other Native Species or Ecological Communities (270(2)(h))

Minimising threats to the Sub-antarctic Fur seal or Southern Elephant seal may benefit other marine species that share the same breeding and/or foraging habitat.

Two other Arctocephalus breed on Macquarie Island. Several albatross and giant petrel and penguin species also breed on Macquarie. In the surrounding water several species of whale have been recorded including southern right whale Eubelaena australis, sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus and killer whale Orcinus orca.

Heard Island is an important breeding ground for several penguin species and the globally endangered black-browed albatross Thalassarche melanophrys, light-mantled albatross Phoebetria palpebrata, southern giant-petrel Macronectes giganteus, the Heard Island cormorant Phalacrocorax atriceps nivalis and the lesser sheathbill Chionis minor nasicornis. The island is also an important breeding location for the Antarctic fur seal, and wintering area for the leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx.

Implementation of this plan is unlikely to have any negative impacts on any other native species or ecological communities. Research activities associated with monitoring will need to undertaken in a manner that will ensure that disturbance to threatened species on the islands is minimised.