Australian inshore dolphin workshop 2012

Melbourne, Australia, 10-11 December 2012

A technical workshop was held that brought together a core group of leading cetacean researchers, statisticians and indigenous representatives to achieve the objectives stated below. There were 18 attendees representing research organisations, federal and state government agencies, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC), and the Indigenous Advisory Committee. Attendees came from the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria,

Objectives

1. Review the contemporary challenges of listing marine species under the EPBC Act.
2. Identify the most appropriate criteria for assessing the status of Australian snubfin (Orcaella heinsohni) dolphins (hereafter ‘snubfin dolphins’).
3. Review the research objectives identified in the draft Coordinated Research Strategy against the appropriate criteria identified in Objective 2.
4. Agree on a sound and appropriate framework for conducting research that will provide sufficient data to assess the status of Australian inshore dolphins, in particular the snubfin dolphin, incorporating overall design, methodologies, distribution of effort, timelines and indicative costs.

Outputs

Final report on Methods for Assessment of the Conservation Status of Australian Inshore Dolphins [PDF], May 2014

Coordinated research framework to assess the national conservation status of Australian snubfin dolphins (Orcaella heinsohni) and other tropical inshore dolphins [PDF], October 2013

Technical workshop to finalise the Australian Inshore Dolphin Coordinated Research Strategy [PDF], 10-11 December 2012