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Home , Balaenidae, Right whale, Southern right whale, Whale

Action Statement FloraFlora and and Fauna Fauna Guarantee Guarantee Act Act 1988 1988 No. No.### 94

Southern Right Eubalaena australis

Description and Distribution

The Southern , Eubalaena australis, is the only southern hemisphere representative of the mysticete () whale family . It is a large whale with no dorsal on its flat, shiny back.

This is unique in having pale horny outgrowths of - generally referred to as callosities - on the head, chin and variably on the top edge of the lower jaw. The number, size and arrangement of these callosities can be used to identify individuals (Cummings 1985). Most , Eubalaena australis individuals are predominantly black in colour, (illustration by Ian Dickinson and reproduced with except for scars, parasites and head callosities. permission from Thomson undated) Some individuals have white belly patches, which can be quite conspicuous. Almost completely white are encountered occasionally. One large female sighted in in 1994 was grey and was accompanied by a white .

Southern Right are considered to be sexually mature when 9-10 years of age, and approximately 12-13m in length. An adult whale averages about 50 tonnes in weight and 16m in length; males are generally slightly smaller than females. The maximum recorded size is 80 tonnes and 17.5m (Bannister et al. 1996).

This species uses triangular plates of baleen on the sides of the upper jaw to strain food from water collected at or near the surface, by swimming slowly along with the mouth open. By closing the mouth periodically, the water is pushed out of the Distribution in Victoria [source: Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, NRE 1998] mouth through these filters, and pelagic larval crustacea (mainly Munida gregaria) and adult are retained. Southern Right Whales frequent sub- and the lower Antarctic species appear to be growing slowly, and this trend latitudes during the summer and feed on species may be reflected in time by increased numbers of which are abundant at that time. They rarely feed sightings in Victorian waters. However, the level of on Euphausia superba which is the key food annual variation in numbers is such that this of other baleen whales. They fast during their cannot yet be confirmed. over-wintering sojourn in Australian coastal waters (Bannister et al. 1996). Southern Right Whales leave Antarctic waters - between 40oS and 60oS - and head north as winter Current status approaches. The winter months are spent along ANZECC (1995) Endangered () the southern coasts of Australia, and . It is thought that there may be NRE (1999) Critically Endangered (Victoria) up to seven more or less geographically isolated populations in the southern hemisphere, of which The Southern Right Whale is listed on Appendix 1 some are believed to concentrate in the vicinity of of the CITES Convention. Its global status is sub-Antarctic islands such as Macquarie, Heard assessed as Lower Risk (Conservation-dependent) and the Chathams. by the IUCN. The Southern Right Whale is fully In Australia, Southern Right Whales are found protected within the Australian Exclusive Economic along the southern coastline, in small groups or as Zone under the Whale Protection Act 1980. individuals. Between 500 and 800 animals are thought to regularly overwinter in this region. The Reasons for conservation status largest congregations occur in the Great Australian The Southern Right Whale was the basis of a Bight, where they mate and calve regularly. Two Victorian industry, begun in 1833 by sub-populations may exist in Australian waters, William Dutton. Large numbers occurred in coastal one in the waters off and one off waters off Portland - Port Fairy, from which the and Victoria, perhaps extending shore-based whaling operations were conducted into southern . There is an (Carroll 1989). The industry reached its peak in unknown level of interchange; some individuals, 1837, only four years after commencing, mainly adult females, are known to travel between subsequently declining and being abandoned only the two groups (Bannister et al. 1996, Kemper et al. ten years later (Powling 1980, Peel 1996). 1996, Ling and Needham 1991). The species was also hunted by off-shore Sperm Breeding appears to be on a three-year cycle, with from a number of nations, mainly in their females returning to preferred breeding areas summer feeding waters and during migration between June and August. Mating usually occurs (Townsend 1935). Historical catch efforts and the between July and August; the gestation period is records of whale numbers they provide (Dawbin 11-12 months. The species is long-lived, with a 1986) suggest that the initial ‘Australian’ probable life-span of up to 50 years (Bannister et population may have been in excess of 40 000. al. 1996). Southern Right Whales were hunted extensively Most records of reproductive activity in Victoria throughout their entire range until about 1899, by are from the Logan’s Beach area, between the which time the species was near to extinction. The Mepunga Cliffs and the Hopkins River mouth, near cessation of ‘right’ whaling was due to the collapse . Cows give within the period of commercial viability of the industry rather than June-August during their winter visits, which often by any concern for the conservation of the species. last until October or November. Although no birth has actually been witnessed there to date, there is In 1935, the Southern Right Whale was protected strong circumstantial evidence that are born by international agreement, but by then the total in the area, i.e. cows have been observed alone and world population was estimated at only about then, within hours, accompanied by a calf. 1 000 animals. Some harvesting, by Russian Elsewhere in Victoria, have been inferred but whalers, was still taking place as recently as the not confirmed from observations near Mallacoota, early 1970s. The current estimate of the total the Otway coast and Port Fairy. Apparent mating population is 2 000-3 000 animals, indicating that behaviour has been reported off Cape Woolamai, the recovery has been extremely slow, perhaps , and possibly at Logan’s Beach, reduced by illegal take. The recovery rate is although this remains unconfirmed (Warneke 1989, considered to be about 10% per year off Western 1993, 1995). Australia (Bannister 1990), slightly higher than observed off South Africa and South America (7%: The number of Southern Right Whales over- Best 1990, Bannister et al. 1996) wintering in Victorian waters is a very small part of the Australian population. Total numbers of the

2 The low world and local population is the principal • Disturbance of the whales by the movement reason for the species’ threatened status. Thomas of aircraft over the Warrnambool coast, in (1990) suggests that a population of about 5 000 is particular fixed-wing aircraft for sight- required for a taxon to be considered to have a seeing and helicopters for news filming. viable population. Using revised criteria developed • Fishing activities in which fishing gear is set by IUCN (Baillie and Groombridge 1996), for the which may lead to the entanglement of species’ status to be down-listed in Australia the resident or migrating animals. This is more population should approach 10 000. To achieve likely to occur with methods that use long this, a number of potentially threatening processes nets, trailing ropes or tethered buoys. will need to be addressed. These activities are common in the Southern In its final recommendation the Scientific Advisory Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii), and Giant Committee (SAC 1991) determined that the taxon Crab (Pseudocarcinus gigas) pot and is: the southern fishery. Entanglement has happened on at least four recorded • significantly prone to future threats which occasions in South Australian and Western are likely to result in extinction; and Australian waters (S. Burnell pers. comm. • very rare in terms of abundance or 1995) but while the activity of the distribution. individuals has been compromised, no deaths have been reported. The gear used Major Conservation Objective in recreational fishing is unlikely to be a major concern. • Pollution by plastic waste, which may cause • To protect critical, over-wintering habitat of entanglement, and degradation of water the Southern Right Whale in Victorian quality by industrial waste, untreated waters. In particular, to ensure that calving sewage, eroded soil and other and nursery grounds and migration routes environmental contaminants. Possible are managed and protected so as to pollutants and much litter may enter from maximise the species’ reproductive the Hopkins River, indicating the need for a potential. catchment management approach to • To define and quantify threats to the taxon resolution of these issues. Sedimentation and to minimise such threats by their can be a problem in winter, when currents removal or control by appropriate means. from the south-west push sediments from the Hopkins River directly towards Logan’s Management Issues Beach. The disposal of waste at by fishing boats could also be a problem. Ecological issues specific to the taxon • Southern Right Whales are extremely Calving and nursery sites and mating grounds will sensitive to sounds below and above the need to be secure and free of disturbance to water surface, relying on their acute encourage breeding and to protect young from acoustic sense to monitor their distress, thus maximising the chances of environment. Human activities which successful rearing of calves. In Victorian waters, produce loud and persistent sounds under the only regular calving and nursery ground known water may interfere with whale activity and is off Logan’s Beach; no favoured mating sites are induce significant levels of stress. This yet known. could cause changes in use of specific habitat areas by the whales. Shipping noise, Potentially Threatening Processes seismic exploration, hazard removal and military testing may all cause unacceptable Habitat quality of the near-shore zone is levels of acoustic disturbance (Bannister et potentially threatened by: al. 1996). • Disturbance of the whales during the In addition to near-shore issues, activities off-shore calving and nursing season by commercial may present potential threats. These include: fishing and recreational boating activity, particularly by boats engaged in whale- • The presence of marine traffic in the watching. The increased demand for eco- whale’s migration routes (although these are tourism experiences could lead to unknown as yet), which may lead to competition between operators to provide collision and subsequent death or injury. better viewing, which may lead to greater This has happened in South Africa where levels of boat traffic and commensurate two animals were killed by a collision with a increased disturbance to the whales. freighter leaving Harbour (G. Ross pers. comm.). Some 20% of Northern

3 Right Whale Eubalaena glacialis mortality is Land Conservation Council’s recommendations due to shipping strikes (Kraus 1990), and as from the Marine and Coastal Special Investigation numbers of Southern Right Whales increase (LCC 1996). The implications could be that the risk of collision for the latter species proposed areas will be managed for the will also rise. Zones in which Southern conservation of the marine habitat that favours Right Whales are known to move to and this species. This would need to be considered as from over-wintering areas, and coastal part of the critical habitat determination. movement areas, will need to be managed Sewage treatment is an issue for the Environmental so as to minimise interference by shipping. Protection Authority, which has a stated aim to • The potential of oil spills from exploration remove outfall disposal of untreated waste. and exploitation of off-shore petrochemical Secondary treatment for the City of Warrnambool resources in both State and Commonwealth has commenced and at Port Fairy the development waters is an issue. Although experience in of better treatment facilities is planned. Portland existing Bass Strait fields and the has commenced the development of land-based predominance of gas structures rather than disposal facilities. heavy oil in the Otway Basin suggests that the possibility of a major spill is low, Tougher pollution controls for industry and exploration and production has the capacity agriculture are to be considered as part of a to disturb a wide range of marine broader catchment management program. The environments. promotion of better water industry management of waterways and disposal programs for storm-water • Oil spills from tankers passing through Bass and sewage are essential. Strait are inevitable. Their potential effects on Southern Right Whales will be dependent Continued adherence to international conventions on the location and movement of the spill, such as the International Whaling Commission, the but would be most damaging if they Antarctic Treaty, Convention on the Conservation affected calving/nursery sites. Smaller of the Antarctic Marine and Living Resources and spills from other shipping are of regular Australian Exclusive Economic Zone controls on and increasing occurrence. The Wildlife activities of foreign vessels is Government policy. Response Plan for Oil Spills (NRE 1997) has been produced to deal with such events, large or small. Social and economic issues

Wider conservation issues The tourism benefits to the state and the region are potentially high, with recent reports (SWRTA Member nations of the International Whaling 1994) indicating a 10% loss in revenue for local Commission have agreed that commercial whaling tourism because whales did not visit Warrnambool is banned in the until 2004, at during 1994. Identification of Warrnambool and which time the situation will be reviewed. It is the south-west coast with whales has a significant unlikely that the decision will be reversed, but for value to local traders, in particular through the any harvesting to take place, certain conditions, utilisation of facilities during the winter months, detailed in the Revised Management Procedure the traditional tourism off-season, when whales are developed by the IWC Scientific Committee, would present in most years. The multiplier effect this have to be met (Bannister et al. 1996). The has on a seasonal industry is greater than an Southern Right Whale is far from recovering to a equivalent increase in demand for limited point where it could sustain even a low level of resources during the summer period. Therefore, commercial whaling. the value of this opportunity to view whales must The Southern Right Whale is protected throughout be seen as more valuable than additional summer- its range. The recent creation of the Southern dependent attractions. Ocean Sanctuary, in which all commercial whaling The effect of habitat protection on recreational and is banned south of 40oS adds a most important commercial fishing should be positive in the long- conservation overlay to the existing protective term, through improved habitat and stock legislation as does the protection provided within management. Any negative effects could be the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone in which ameliorated by imposing a temporal ban on some the federal Whale Protection Act 1980 applies. commercial activities, which would not remove Formalising the conservation status of the marine resources from the industry but shift the time of habitat in western Victoria could be used as a harvest from winter to summer. means of managing the habitat identified as There are a range of costs and benefits of calving/nursery grounds. The provision of a improved sewage treatment processes that result Marine Reserve system is currently the basis of the in no ocean outfall of untreated waste. The

4 economic cost to remove ocean outfall has been 1998 governing whale-watching activities and considered too high for the City of Warrnambool, thus achieve greater protection from human but the analysis has not included the long-term disturbance. effect on the tourism industry if the whales are 2. Implement the exclusion of boats from Logan’s adversely affected by disposal at sea. Beach while whales are in residence.

3. Enforce adherence to published guidelines for the movement of aircraft over the Previous Management Action Warrnambool coast. A standard Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) exists for air traffic in this area, which should be followed by both local Guidelines have been incorporated and visiting pilots. Publicity concerning this into the Wildlife (Whales) Regulations 1998, to instruction should be prominently displayed at ensure consistent control over aircraft, boats and the pilot’s lounge at local airports. swimmers in the vicinity of whales. 4. Review recreational fishing and boating Environment Australia has prepared national activity from the Hopkins River mouth east to guidelines for cetacean observation (Australian the Mepunga Cliffs i.e. the inshore zone that is National Guidelines for Cetacean Observation, frequently utilised by cows with calves as a Environment Australia 1999). NRE has endorsed nursery site, to determine what type of these guidelines. exclusion zone for boating can be declared Improved viewing facilities have been developed at and enforced. Logan’s Beach. These have been jointly funded and 5. Ensure that the agreed Code of Practice for constructed by the City of Warrnambool and the commercial fishing (CNR 1995) is implemented Department of Natural Resources and at appropriate times when whales are present Environment. This incorporates educational in the Warrnambool area. This Code limits material for the public who gather at this location commercial fishing, including transit, within a to observe the whales during winter. designated area at specified times. NRE has prepared a contingency plan for dealing 6. Prepare and implement an education and with stranded whales, and (The extension program, at both state and local Victorian Cetacean Contingency Plan, NRE 1999). levels, to ensure that the public is aware of the A series of planned census flights, flights targeting need for caution and concern for the species’ individual animals for identification photography, welfare. Provide and maintain up-to-date an intensive effort to obtain incidental sightings displays and interpretation boards at Logan’s during 1993 and a review of the entire series of Beach and the Tourist Information Centre, and incidental sightings accumulated for South at boat ramps and beaches close to Logan’s Australia and Victoria has resulted in a Beach, harbours, viewing platforms and comprehensive documentation of the occurrence airports in the area. Encourage the Friends of of Southern Right Whales in these waters (Warneke the Southern Right Whale and Project in 1989, 1993; Kemper et al. 1996). This program is the promotion of conservation of the whale, by continuing. regular communication between NRE and these groups and their involvement in the A PhD candidate at The University of Sydney (S. preparation and implementation of the Burnell) studied Southern Right Whales at the Head education program. of the Bight and also at Warrnambool between 1992 and 1996. This study concentrated on 7. Co-ordinate the Victorian components of behaviour and some aspects of population research being undertaken on this species: dynamics. • Collaborate with national efforts to record The Museum of Victoria has a small series of Southern Right Whale activity, including partial skeletons of Southern Right Whale in its the photographic identification of collection (Dixon and Frigo 1994) as has the South individuals as an aid to population Australian Museum (C. M. Kemper pers. comm. studies, using aerial and shore-based 1997). Interpretive displays about whales have cameras and standardised methods. incorporated some of this material. Identify individual whales that visit the calving and nursery grounds and Intended Management Action elsewhere on the Victorian coast. • Determine the habitat characteristics of the Logan’s Beach area that make it 1. Enforce the provisions of the Wildlife Act attractive as a calving and nursery area, by 1975 and the Wildlife (Whales) Regulations

5 comparison with other known calving and 13. Consider participation in the sampling of nursery sites throughout the species’ tissue from resident animals during winter to range. assess genetic make-up of the population and • Determine Critical Habitat for Southern to establish levels of bio-accumulation of Right Whale under the provisions of the pesticides and other pollutants. This should Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1998. only occur as part of an Experimentation Ethics Committee approved 8. Develop guidelines for the movement of program. shipping, particularly that to and from the proposed Minerva Gas Field development, to ensure that the general locations of whales are Legislative Powers Operating known to ships’ captains, to better enable them to sight and avoid whales when possible. Legislation Provide information to coastal shipping Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 – management to ensure it is aware of the provides for the integrated management and potential for whale-ship collisions during the protection of catchments and the control of early winter and late spring migration seasons. noxious weeds and pest animals. Enlist the support of ships’ captains in the identification of whales and logging and Conservation Forests and Lands Act 1987 – reporting of the location of particular whales provides for the management of public land under to allow for photo-identification missions. the Act, the co-ordination of legislation administered by NRE and for the preparation of 9. Negotiate the incorporation of protection codes of practice. measures for the species in development proposals. These measures should include the Land (Reserves) Act 1978 – provides for use of non-petrochemical based drilling muds, reserving areas as public land and for making a the on-shore disposal of wastes and extension specific reservation status for existing public land. of the plan (NRE 1997) to identify Act 1995 – provides controls for the zones in which dispersants may be used in the management of fisheries. deeper waters of the Otway Basin. Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 – provides 10. Encourage better sewage treatment practice in for the protection of flora and fauna in Victoria municipalities adjacent to calving grounds. through a range of mechanisms including controls Water quality is an issue, due to the localised over the handling or protected flora and listed . coastal sewage disposal program undertaken by the City of Warrnambool and the Towns of National Parks Act 1975 – provides for the Port Fairy and Portland. The effects on preservation, protection and management of Southern Right Whales are unknown, but natural areas and includes controls over taking untreated sewage has a detrimental effect on native flora and fauna from parks. water quality. Planning and Environment Act 1987 – provides 11. Encourage appropriate authorities to protect for the protection of native vegetation through the habitat through the development of catchment State section, and for regional planning controls in management guidelines to control industrial all planning schemes. waste, plastic waste and other solids from Wildlife Act 1975 – provides for the management storm-water drains and agricultural run-off. of wildlife (vertebrate animals other than fish, and Negotiate, with Municipal planners, Flora and Fauna Guarantee-listed ) appropriate controls and management of and includes controls over the handling of residential development on the coast at protected wildlife. The status of the Southern Logan’s Beach, where the incidence of Right Whale as protected wildlife makes the taking development may have been detrimental to the of it an offence under the Act unless an habitat characteristics that may favour Logan’s appropriate permit has been obtained. Beach as a calving and nursery site. Wildlife (Whales) Regulations 1998: provide for the control of persons and activities that may Other Desirable Management Action disturb whales in Victorian waters.

12. Consider the use of radio-telemetry and Licence/permit conditions satellite tracking, in conjunction with other Permits for scientific study of the Southern Right States, to monitor movements between sub- Whale may be issued under the provisions of the populations and determine migration routes. Wildlife Act 1975. Applications are carefully assessed with regard to the benefit to the

6 conservation of the taxon. Research that might Contacts potentially interfere with the whales in their calving grounds or during calving or mating Management activities will not be permitted. Flora and Fauna Management Officers in the Research must be undertaken in such a manner as following NRE Regions: to ensure that the disturbance to the whales is South West, and . minimised. Research activities must not be in breach of the Whale Watching Guidelines and must be seen to be so. Biology Museum of Victoria.

Consultation and Community South Australian Museum. Participation Western Australian Museum.

Flora and Fauna Program, NRE. Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF). Warneke Marine Services. City of Warrnambool. Steve Burnell, Eubalaena P/L. Environment Australia (formerly ANCA).

Environment Conservation Council (ECC). Personal communications Friends of the Southern Right Whale. S. Burnell, University of Sydney, NSW.

Marine Studies Group (now part of the Field Dr C. M. Kemper, Curator of , SA Naturalists Club of Victoria). Museum.

Museum of Victoria. Dr G. J. B. Ross, Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Canberra. National Threatened Species Network, Worldwide Fund for Nature. References Other fishing groups, both recreational and commercial. ANZECC (1995) The Australian and Project Jonah (Victoria) Inc. Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) Threatened Vertebrate Fauna List. South Australian Museum. Environment Australia, Canberra, ACT. South West Region Tourism Authority (SWRTA). Baillie, J. & Groombridge, B. (Eds). (1996) 1996 IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. IUCN, University of Sydney, Anatomy and Veterinary Gland, Switzerland. Departments. Bannister, J. L. (1990) Southern Right Whales of Warneke Services. Western Australia. Reports of the International Whaling Commission (Special Issue 12): 279-88. Warrnambool Fishermen’s Association. Bannister, J. L., Kemper, C. M. & Warneke, R. M. Western Australian Museum. (1996) The Action Plan for Australian Cetaceans. Australian Agency, Canberra. Best, P. B. (1990) Trends in the inshore right whale Implementation, Evaluation and Review population off South Africa, 1969-1987. Marine Mammal Science 6: 93-108. Carroll, J. R. (1989) to Harvest. The The Regional Managers, South West, Port Phillip story of Charles & John Mills, Pioneers of Port and Gippsland Regions, and the Executive Director, Fairy. Warrnambool Institute Press, Parks, Flora and Fauna Division, Department of Warrnambool. Natural Resources and Environment will be CNR (1995) Code of Practice: Commercial fishing responsible for the implementation of this Action operations at Logans Beach Warrnambool. Statement. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Warrnambool Professional A review will take place in 2002 to ensure that the Fisherman’s Association. major conservation objectives are being met. A Cummings, W. C. (1985) Right Whales Eubalaena major review of the Action Statement will take glacialis and Eubalaena australis. pp: 275-304 place in 2004, at which time progress will be in Ridgeway, S. H. and Harrison, R. (Eds) assessed and future direction for the program will Handbook of Marine Mammals Vol. 3, the be determined.

7 Sirenians and Baleen Whales. Academic Press, Townsend, C. H. (1935) The distribution of certain London. whales as shown by logbook records of American whaleships. Zoologica 19: 1-50. Dawbin, W. H. (1986) Right whales caught in waters around south-eastern Australia and New Warneke, R. M. (1986) (ed.) Victorian Whale Rescue Zealand during the nineteenth and early Plan. A contingency plan for strandings of twentieth centuries. Reports of the cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) on International Whaling Commission (Special the Victorian coastline. Fisheries and Wildlife issue 10): 261-67. Service, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, Victoria. Dixon, J. M. & Frigo, L. (1994) The Cetacean Collection of the Museum of Victoria. Warneke, R. M. (1989) Review of Southern Right Australian Deer Research Foundation, Croydon. Whale activity on the Victorian coast, 1842- 1988. Department of Conservation, Forests and Kemper, C. M., Mole, J., Warneke, R. M., Ling, J. K., Lands, Victoria. Unpublished report to the Needham, D. J. & Wapstra, J. E. (1996) Southern Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Right Whales in south-eastern Australia - aerial Canberra. surveys during 1991-1993 and incidental information from 1904. pp: 40-55 in Hindell, M. Warneke, R. M. (1993) Sightings of Southern Right and Kemper, C. (Eds). Marine Mammal Research Whales in Victorian coastal waters, 1993. in the Southern Hemisphere. Volume 1. Status, Consultancy report to the South Australian and Medicine. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Museum. Warneke Marine Mammal Services. Chipping Norton, New South Wales. Mitcham, Victoria. Kraus, S. D. (1990) Rates and potential causes of Warneke, R. M. (1995) Southern Right Whale mortality in North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena australis. pp: 311-12 in Menkhorst, (Eubalaena glacialis). Marine Mammal Science 6 P. W. (ed.) Mammals of Victoria. Distribution, (4): 278-91. ecology and conservation. Oxford University Press, . LCC (1996) Marine and Coastal Special Investigation, Draft Final Recommendations. Land Conservation Council, Melbourne. Compiled by John Seebeck, Parks, Flora and Fauna Ling, J. K. & Needham, D. J. (1991) Southern right Division, Department of Sustainability and whale survey: south-eastern Australia - 1991 Environment. final report. Report to BHP Petroleum, Melbourne. Further information can be obtained from NRE (1997) Draft State Plan to deal with Wildlife Department of Sustainability and Environment Affected by an Oil Spill. Department of Natural Customer Service Centre on 136 186. Resources and Environment, Victoria. NRE (1998) Atlas of Victorian Wildlife (electronic Flora and Fauna Guarantee Action Statements are fauna database). Department of Natural available from the Department of Sustainability and Resources and Environment, Victoria. Environment website: http://www.dse.vic.gov.au NRE (1999) Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in This Action Statement was first published in 2000 Victoria. Department of Natural Resources and and remains current. This version has been Environment, Victoria. prepared for web publication. It retains the original text of the action statement, although contact Peel, L. (1996) [ed.] The Henty Journals: A Record information, the distribution map and the illustration of Farming, Whaling and Shipping in Portland may have been updated. Bay 1834-1839. The Meigunyah Press/The State Library of Victoria, Melbourne. © The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2004 Powling, J. W. (1980) Port Fairy. The First Fifty Years. William Heinemann, Melbourne. Published by the Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria. SAC (1991) Final recommendation on a nomination 8 Nicholson Street, for listing: Eubalaena glacialis australis - East Melbourne, Southern Right Whale (Nomination No. 89). Victoria 3002 Australia Flora and Fauna Guarantee. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, This publication may be of assistance to you but the Melbourne. State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is SWRTA (1994) South West Regional Tourist wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and Authority. therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you Thomas, C. D. (1990) What do real population relying on any information in this publication. dynamics tell us about minimum viable population sizes? Conservation Biology 4: 324- 7. ISSN 1448-9902 Thomson, C. (undated) Whales and Dolphins of Western Australia – What Whale is that. Department of Conservation and Land Management. Como: WA.

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