Question 3

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Question 4.

a). The equipment and methods used to comply with the EPBC Act regulations.

The surveys will be conducted in a Robinson 44 Raven II Helicopter. Photo-ID of individual whales will be collected

using a Canon 40D digital SLR camera with a 300-500mm lens. Two flights are scheduled, one in mid-September,

and one in mid-October to capture the temporal and spatial habitat usage of the Great Australian Bight southern

right whale aggregation. Flights are planned to enter the aggregation area from east to west. The purpose of this

permit application is to seek permission within the EPBC Marine Mammal Regulations to fly within 200 metres

vertically and laterally of individual animals to enable the collection of high quality individual photographic ID’s.

b). What steps will be taken to minimise the effects on cetaceans?

Minimal hovering is expected as photo-ID approaches of individual whales will not be made until they are at the

surface. Experienced marine mammal scientists will be on-board and if any signs of disturbance or altered

behaviour are detected, the photo-ID approach will be halted and the helicopter will immediately move away

from the individual/group. The helicopter to be utilised has been specifically identified as one that has low engine

and rotor noise, as well as negligible down draft to minimise disturbance.

c). The objectives and purposes of this action

The aims of this project are to photograph, categorise and geo-reference all individual animals within the survey

area. These data, and additional data collected in subsequent years, will provide estimates of abundance,

population growth rate, and survival and fecundity of southern right whales (Eaubalaena australis) in the former

Great Australian Bight Marine Park (which will be encompassed by the Great Australian Bight Commonwealth

Marine Reserve in July 2014). Information on the status and trends in abundance of SRW populations within the

region are essential for evaluating key performance measures of the GAB Marine Park, to assist DEWNR in species

management decisions and to meet the first interim recovery objective of the “Southern right Whale

Conservation and Management Plan 2011-2021”:

“Demonstrate that the number of southern right whales occurring off south-west Australia (nominally

south-west Australian population) is increasing at or near the maximum biological rate.” (DSEWPaC, 2012)

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Question 5

a). A copy of the research proposal

Development and implementation of a new survey protocol for monitoring southern right whale abundance, distribution and population dynamics at the Great Australian Bight aggregation/nursery ground.

The overall aim of this project is to provide an absolute count of the number of southern right whales (Eaubalaena australis) present in the former Great Australian Bight Marine Park (which will be encompassed by the Great Australian Bight Commonwealth Marine Reserve in July 2014), in September and October 2013, and to obtain photo-ID of all individuals. All individuals and groups will be geo-referenced to provide data on the temporal distribution of individuals and different classes. The data collected during these initial two surveys will be used to inform the design and execution of a longer term monitoring program of this southern right whale aggregation.

BACKGROUND

Southern right whales (Eaubalaena australis) (SRW) are listed as endangered under the Commonwealth EPBC Act and require sufficient monitoring to meet the objectives of the Conservation Management plan for the Southern Right Whale (DSEWPaC 2012).

The species has a southern hemisphere circumpolar distribution between latitude 16°S and 65°S. Between May and October, SRW from Australia migrate between higher latitude feeding grounds (probably between 40°S and 65°S) to calving/nursery grounds in coastal Australian waters. Until recently SRW in Australian waters have been managed as a single population estimated at approximately 3,500 individuals (DSEWPaC 2012). However, a recent genetic study has led to the proposal of two populations in Australian waters (south-western and south-eastern) (Carroll et al. 2011), that are experiencing different rates of recovery from historical whaling effort. While recovery and re-occupancy rates for the south-eastern population are low, the south-western population is estimated to be increasing at 6.79% per annum (Bannister 2011), near or at maximum population growth. Current population estimates put the south-western population at 2,900 individuals (Bannister 2011), therefore accounting for 83% of the total estimated Australian SRW population.

The south-western SRW population is distributed between Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia (WA) and Ceduna, South Australia (SA) (Bannister 2011) with established large coastal aggregation and nursery grounds at Doubtful Island Bay area and Israelite Bay areas in WA, and Head of Bight (HOB) in SA. During the breeding season unaccompanied whales have been shown to travel between areas up to 1,500km apart. In general, female SRW show calving site fidelity and tend to spend 2-3 months at a particular nursery ground. However, calving whales have been recorded at locations up to 700km apart in a single season (DSEWPaC 2012).

Reproductive females produce a single calf every three years, but this three year calving interval can vary as a result of large-scale climate variability (Leaper et al 2006) or if a female loses its calf. Gestation lasts for 12 months, with a 7-8 month lactation period. Reproductive females tend not to be present in these coastal aggregation areas between calving events, and counts of female-calf pairs vary annually as a result of cohort structured breeding (DSEWPaC 2012). The winter distribution of Australian SRWs which do not migrate to coastal calving/aggregations is presently unknown.

The HOB is a significant winter calving/aggregation site for a portion of the south-western population (>40%, Charlton &Burnell 2011) and Fowlers Bay to the east of the HOB is classified as an emerging aggregation area (DSEWPaC 2012). SRWs are present in the area between May and October, with peak abundance occurring between mid-August and mid-September (Bannister 2011).

The SRW aggregation at the HOB has been studied for over twenty years, with varying levels of support from State and Commonwealth agencies, including the Australian Marine Mammal Centre (AMMC), DEWNR &DSEWPaC. These studies have been conducted to facilitate the management of this species and data have

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primarily been collected from cliff top surveys. Surveys are conducted over a 15km stretch of coastline comprising of 5km of beach (which cannot be directly surveyed) and 10km of limestone cliffs. The potential coastal area that can be successfully surveyed from cliff top sites is dependent on the height of the observation point used (37 to 60m) and environmental conditions (Charlton &Burnell 2011). Cliff top surveys run for 12-17 days over a single field trip usually commencing in mid-August.

Additional information on SRW abundance and photo-ID are collected during annual aerial surveys, which, since 1993, have surveyed the region between HOB and Ceduna. However, these areas are only surveyed twice (one eastern and one return leg) when peak numbers in cow/calf pairs are likely to occur (mid-August to mid-September). As a result aerial count data are only available for a small proportion of time that whales are present at the HOB breeding/calving aggregation.

NEED

SRW are one of the key special features of the GAB Marine Park and the HOB represents a significant aggregation and calving ground for the Australian south-western SRW population. Information on the status and trends in abundance of SRW populations within the region are essential for evaluating key performance measures of the GAB Marine Park, to assist DEWNR in species management decisions and to meet the first interim recovery objective of the “Southern right Whale Conservation and Management Plan 2011-2021”:

“Demonstrate that the number of southern right whales occurring off south-west Australia (nominally south-west Australian population) is increasing at or near the maximum biological rate.” (DSEWPaC 2012)

Land-based studies of the SRW aggregation at the HOB have been conducted since 1991, but, for a number of reasons, the Great Australian Bight Marine Park management currently has a data set which is incomplete, unanalysed and contributes little to the management of the species. Consequently, the development of a new monitoring protocols is proposed to assess SRW abundance, distribution and population dynamics at the HOB aggregation, which is essential for addressing key performance measures in the Great Australian Bight Marine Park Management Plan, and to meet interim objectives of Conservation Management Plan for southern right whales.

To date, land-based surveys have provided relative counts and obtained photographic IDs of SRW at the HOB during the peak calving season. However, the ability to accurately count and photograph all whales in the area, within a season, is affected by distance of animals from shore (or in the eastern end of the study site off the beach) and sighting conditions. For example 16% of all whales counted during the 9 day cliff-top survey conducted in 2010 were classified as being of “unknown status”. Unknown status animals are those individuals who are “unable to be categorised due to limited sightability.” (Charlton &Burnell 2011), i.e. the presence of “an accompanying calf cannot be confirmed or refuted” (Burnell 2007). Only 10% of individuals of this unknown status class were successfully photographically identified. While photo-id rates of female-calf pairs is higher (90% of the numbers counted) any female with calf which is not successfully IDd, or any unknown status whale which was accompanied by a calf and not IDd, will effect estimates of female reproductive rates in the population. “Unaccompanied” whales move quickly through the area and are less likely to be identified at HOB from a single survey during the breeding season. Known mature females which have previously been identified with a calf in the aggregation area spend significantly less time in the area in those years when they do not have a calf (Burnell&Bryden, 2007).

In order to investigate variation in temporal calving patterns within seasons, intra-season population and migration dynamics, as well as intraspecific differences in habitat usage, an accurate count and classification of all individuals in the area is required. Aerial surveys provide a platform for conducting repeatable count surveys and for collecting photo ID data and have been widely used to study right whales, both in the southern and northern hemisphere (e.g. Elwen 2004, Clark et al 2010, Bannister 2011). Aerial surveys should be conducted on an annual basis to account for inter-annual variability in counts of reproductive females, which occurs primarily as a result of the three-year breeding cycle of the species.

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The two proposed aerial surveys (September and October 2013) will provide an absolute count and the distribution of whales at the end of the 2013 aggregation throughout the Great Australian Bight Marine Park. The inclusion of count and photo ID data from Fowlers Bay will provide useful and needed information from this emerging aggregation area which is known to have historically been an important nursery ground. The data collected during these surveys will be used to inform the design and execution of a proposed longer-term monitoring project, using aerial survey methodology.

METHODS

Two helicopter based aerial surveys will be conducted, one in September, and one in October 2013. Aerial survey protocol will follow the standard methodology commonly used to survey and photo-ID right whales. The aim of these surveys will be to provide accurate counts, geographic location, and where possible, photo IDs of all SRW in the study area. During search and count phase of the survey the helicopter will fly at an altitude of no lower than 400 metres. To obtain an accurate photo-ID, the helicopter will descend to a flying altitude of a minimum of 200m. Once a photo-ID has been obtained the helicopter will immediately return to the “search and count” flying altitude. In addition, in order to minimise any disturbance of the animals, behavioural responses of individual or groups of whales to the helicopter will be assessed in real-time by qualifed and experienced marine mammal scientists aboard the helicopter. Any photo-ID approach (ie reduction of flying altitude to a minimum of 200m) will be immeadiatley halted if animals show any sign of disturbance or change of behaviour, even if this results in not being able to obtain a photo-ID of all counted whales.

OUTCOMES

Surveys will provide an absolute count of southern right whales in the Great Australian Bight Marine park and at the Fowlers Bay aggregation in September and October 2013, including the geographic location(s) and classification of all individuals, and where possible photo-IDs.

An assessment of helicopter aerial survey results and methodology that will inform proposed longer term monitoring of this aggregation.

References:

Australian Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.(2012). Conservation management plan for the southern right whale.

Bannister JL (2011) Population trend in right whales off southern Australia 1993-2010. SC/S11/RW10 IWC SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE ASSESSMENT WORKSHOP: Buenos Aires, 13-16 September 2011

Burnell S (2007) Southern Right Whales -2007 Census and Photo Identification at Head of Bight, S.A. Final Report to Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 15pp

Burnell, S.R. &Bryden, M.M. (1997) Coastal residence periods and reproductive timing in southern right whales, Eubalaenaaustralis Journal of Zoology 241: 613–621

Carroll, E., Patenaude, N., Alexander, A., Steel, D., Harcourt, R., Childerhouse, S., Smith, S., Bannister, J., Constantine, R. & Baker, C.S. (2011) Population structure and individual movement of southern right whales around New Zealand and Australia Marine Ecology Progress Series 432: 257–268

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Charlton C, Burnell S (2011) Southern Right Whales – 2010 Census and Photo Identification at Head of Bight, South Australia. Final report to Great Australian Bight Marine Park, Department of Environment and National Resources.20pp

Clark, C.W., Brown, M.W. &Corkeron, P. (2010). Visual and acoustic surveys for North Atlantic right whales, Eubalaenaglacialis, in capes Cod Bay, Massachusetts, 2001-2005: Management implications: Marine mammal Science, 26(4), 837-85

Elwen, S.H. & Best, P.B. (2004). Environmental factors influencing the distribution of southern right whales, Eubalaenaaustralis, on the south coast of South Africa I: Broad scale patterns: Marine Mammal Science, 20(3), 567-582

Leaper, R., Cooke, J., Trathan, P., Reid, K., Rowntree, V. & Payne, R. (2006) Global climate drives southern right whale (Eubalaenaaustralis) population dynamics Biology Letters 2: 289–292

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Question 5

b). The names of the researchers and the institutions involved in or supporting the research

Associate Professor Simon GoldsworthySARDI Aquatic SciencesThreatened, Endangered and Protected Species Sub-program

Dr Alice MackaySARDI Aquatic SciencesThreatened, Endangered and Protected Species Sub-program

Question 5

c). The relationship of the researchers to the permit applicant, including any funding being provided by, or to

the permit applicant

The researchers will be contracted by the permit applicant to provide assistance in the capture and analysis of

data. This contract will be in the form of a cross agency Service Level Agreement.

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