Abundance, Survival, Recruitment and Realized Growth Rates of East Australia Humpback Whales

Project Name:  
Abundance, Survival, Recruitment and Realized Growth Rates of the East Australia Humpback Whales (Breeding Stock  E-1)

Project Dates:  
Ongoing

Project Site(s):  
East Australia

Project Aims:
Estimate the abundance, survival, recruitment and growth rates of the east Australia humpback whales

Project Justification:
Identifying vital rates within demographic groups is crucial for assessing the status of a species and the extent to which those changes represent a real increase to the overall breeding stock size.

Project Methodology:
Statistical models employing a data set comprised of annual capture-mark-recapture (CMR) history profiles of individual post yearling humpback whales collected in off east Australia from 1984 – 2011.

Project Permits:
Historical data collected under prior permits. 

Current research:
Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Government: Permit Number:  SL100195
 Queensland Government, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation: Permit Number:  307

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: Permit Number:  G11/34324.1
Queensland Government, Environmental Protection Agency: Permit Number:  WISP07811910

Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Environment and Water Resources: 2009-002; C2011-003 pending

Animal Ethics Approvals:
Queensland Government, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation

Department of Industry and Investment, Animal Research Authority, Animal Care and Ethics Committee, NSW

Management Outcomes:
Research findings will estimate the abundance, survival, recruitment and growth rates for Breeding Stock E-1 animals that will be critical in developing population models for the completion of the IWC’s Comprehensive Assessment of Southern Hemisphere humpback whales Breeding Stocks E and F.

Publications and Presentations:
See Pacific Whale Foundation Publication/Presentation Summary