Distribution, abundance and biology of Group V humpback whales ...

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1.Introduction In 1997, the Department of Environment published the Conservation and management of whales and dolphins in Queensland 1997–2001 to guide their conservation and management. The publication included a review of humpback whale scientifi c literature and a management plan that sought to ensure the protection of the species. The aim of this report is to provide information for current managers and staff involved in the conservation and management of humpback whales in Queensland. The report is primarily based on but not restricted to the key scientifi c literature published since 1997. For conciseness, reviews have been cited when possible. Papers presented at the Humpback 2000 Conference, Brisbane, are not included. Information relating to the distribution, biology and abundance of Group V humpback whales is summarised to provide information about the coastal resources required by the species especially when in Queensland waters. The distribution of the species is described at international, national and regional scales. Summaries of the Group V migration route, site fi delity, herd structure and habitat preferences are presented. Details of individual identifi cation techniques using both invasive and non-invasive methods are provided with information relating to the impact of the methodologies. To illustrate the recovery of the species, the population estimates and rates published by various groups are summarised and presented graphically. The references cited are stored in the Environmental Protection Agency’s marine mammal bibliographic database. The database is a Procite application and currently contains 560 records. Each record includes a copy of the abstract, contact details for requesting reprints and reprints held by the Agency. Staff licensed to use the software Procite can access a copy of the database from the Central Offi ce L drive path L:/whale database/MAR-MAM bibliography. The records can be searched using a variety of management-related keywords. 2 • Distribution, abundance and biology of Group V humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae: A review • August 2002 2 Conservation status 2.1 Status in Queensland The humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae is protected under Queensland legislation out to 3 nautical miles offshore and under Australian legislation within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (offshore to 200 nautical miles). In Queensland, the humpback is a protected species under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and is listed as vulnerable under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994. Figure 1 shows the locations of Queensland marine parks declared under the Marine Parks Act 1982. Eastern Hervey Bay was the fi rst site to be specifi cally declared for the protection of humpback whales. The marine park, declared in 1989, has a single “general use zone” which is also a Designated Whale Management and Monitoring Area. The objective of this area is to manage human activities in the vicinity of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae and to monitor the effects of such activities to ensure the protection of whales (Department of Environment and Conservation 1989). Hervey Bay Marine Park and Moreton Bay Marine Park are the only two areas where the Queensland Government permits commercial whale watching. Since 1997, the humpback has been managed in Queensland waters under the Nature Conservation (Whales and Dolphins) Conservation Plan 1997 and the approved management program for the conservation of whales and dolphins in Queensland 1997–2001. The humpback whale is identifi ed as a priority species for management and declares four areas of special interest for whales (Department of Environment 1997). Each area of interest has specifi c management approaches that provide for the protection of humpback whales. In the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, the humpback is managed under the Commonwealth policy Whale and Dolphin Conservation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park 2000. The policy intends to complement and reinforce other State, Commonwealth and internal conservation and management initiatives. The policy details the Whitsunday and Cairns Regions as areas specifi cally managed to minimise the impacts of commercial whale watching. 2.2 Status in Australia Under Commonwealth legislation, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the humpback is listed as a vulnerable migratory and threatened species. In 1999, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 replaced three Commonwealth legislative instruments protecting the humpback — the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1975, the Whale Protection Act 1980 and the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992. In 1998, the humpback was down-listed from endangered to vulnerable under the Endangered Species Protection Act 1992. The Action Plan for Australian Cetaceans 1996 listed the humpback as vulnerable.
Figure 1. Queensland marine parks and other areas of importance for humpbacks 2.3 International status The humpback is protected throughout the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone under several pieces of legislation the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978 (MMPA); the Marine Mammals Protection Regulations 1992; the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1978; and the Fisheries Act 1996. The International Union Conservation of Nature specialist Group (IUCN) listed the humpback as vulnerable to extinction, due to the observed population reduction of more than 20 percent in the last three generations, due principally to previous commercial whaling activities (IUCN 1996). Other international organisations responsible for the conservation of the humpback include The Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), the Convention for Migratory Species (Bonn Convention) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC). 3.Classifi cation and description 3.1 Taxonomic classifi cation The extant members of the Order Cetacea are divided into two sub-orders toothed whales (Odontoceti) and baleen whales (Mysticeti) to which humpback whales belong (Figure 2). Baleen whales possess plates of hair like structures used to sieve prey from water taken in whilst slowly swimming and have a paired blowhole on top of head. Species are found in all oceans of the world usually in high latitudes and most species migrate between summer feeding and winter areas. Baleen whales are divided into the following four families, all of which have living members, right whales (Balaenidae), pygmy right whale (Neobalaenidae), gray whales (Eschrichtidae), and rorquals (Balaenopteridae). The rorquals, to which humpback whales belong, have up to 100 throat grooves or pleats that extend from underneath the lower jaw to behind the fl ippers in all members of the family. The humpback whale has between 12 and 36 throat grooves that expand whilst feeding but are otherwise rarely seen. The humpback is classifi ed as part of the Order Cetacea, sub-order baleen whales (Mysticeti) and Family rorquals (Balaenopteridae). The humpback long went under the name Megaptera nodosa Bonnaterre, 1789, but Kellogg (1932) showed that Borowski’s name has priority (Rice 1998). The humpback was placed in its own genus to emphasise its discrete morphology. There are no taxonomically valid subgroups currently recognised but there are several separate populations described based on the species geographical wintering and/or feeding separations (ANCA 1996). 3 • Distribution, abundance and biology of Group V humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae: A review • August 2002
Page 1 and 2: Distribution, abundance and biology
Page 3: Contents 1 Introduction............
Page 8 and 9: Figure 4. Group IV and V distributi
Page 10 and 11: The main calving ground of the east
Page 12 and 13: During the northern migration there
Page 14 and 15: 6.1.2 Sloughed skin sampling Slough
Page 16 and 17: Variations in the abundance of prey
Page 18 and 19: Appendix 1. Summary of population e
Page 20 and 21: Craig, A.S. & Herman, L.M. 1997. Se
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Distribution, abundance and biology of Group V humpback whales ...

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