❓ Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Environment regarding the protection of humpback whale calving grounds in relation to the Browse LNG precinct development. The Minister assures that whale protection is a priority and is being addressed through various measures, including environmental assessments and marine park development.
AnsweredQoN 3692Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of State Development Browse LNG precinct, and ask -
(1) Is the Minister aware that the Federal Government’s, ‘Humpback Whale Recovery Plan 2005–2010’, identifies humpback whale calving grounds as occurring from between southern Broome to the northern end of Camden Sound?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister describe the key threats to the humpback whale population and how the Government will protect the full extent of the calving grounds?
(1) Is the Minister aware that the Federal Government’s, ‘Humpback Whale Recovery Plan 2005–2010’, identifies humpback whale calving grounds as occurring from between southern Broome to the northern end of Camden Sound?
(2) If yes to (1), can the Minister describe the key threats to the humpback whale population and how the Government will protect the full extent of the calving grounds?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 April 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Response time
28 days
The Minister for Environment has provided the following response:
(1) Yes
(2) The recovery plan lists the resumption of commercial whaling and/or the expansion of scientific whaling and habitat degradation as identified threats, and climate and oceanographic change and prey depletion due to over harvesting as potential threats.
Whaling is not permitted in Australian waters and the Australian Government pursues a policy of protection of whales through the International Whaling Commission.
As well as providing legal protection for whales in State waters, the State Government is developing a representative system of marine parks in WA waters, the Department of Environment and Conservation regulates vessel interactions with whales to minimise disturbance from whale watching, and impacts on whales are considered in the environmental assessment of proposed developments. The humpback whale population that migrates along the WA coast has recovered significantly since the cessation of whaling in 1963, and the proposed Camden Sound Marine Park, for which the then Minister for Environment released the indicative management plan on 22 October 2010, will protect the largest humpback whale nursery in the southern hemisphere.
In relation to the Browse LNG precinct, potential impacts on humpback whales will be considered as part of the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) strategic environmental assessment of the proposal under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986.
When the EPA completes its assessment, it will provide the Minister for Environment with a report and recommendations, and the Minister will set conditions that will apply to the project if it is approved. It is inappropriate for the Minister to comment further while the EPA's assessment is in progress, other than to say that the Government is committed to ensuring the conservation of humpback whales.
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(1) Yes
(2) The recovery plan lists the resumption of commercial whaling and/or the expansion of scientific whaling and habitat degradation as identified threats, and climate and oceanographic change and prey depletion due to over harvesting as potential threats.
Whaling is not permitted in Australian waters and the Australian Government pursues a policy of protection of whales through the International Whaling Commission.
As well as providing legal protection for whales in State waters, the State Government is developing a representative system of marine parks in WA waters, the Department of Environment and Conservation regulates vessel interactions with whales to minimise disturbance from whale watching, and impacts on whales are considered in the environmental assessment of proposed developments. The humpback whale population that migrates along the WA coast has recovered significantly since the cessation of whaling in 1963, and the proposed Camden Sound Marine Park, for which the then Minister for Environment released the indicative management plan on 22 October 2010, will protect the largest humpback whale nursery in the southern hemisphere.
In relation to the Browse LNG precinct, potential impacts on humpback whales will be considered as part of the Environmental Protection Authority's (EPA) strategic environmental assessment of the proposal under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986.
When the EPA completes its assessment, it will provide the Minister for Environment with a report and recommendations, and the Minister will set conditions that will apply to the project if it is approved. It is inappropriate for the Minister to comment further while the EPA's assessment is in progress, other than to say that the Government is committed to ensuring the conservation of humpback whales.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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