Post on 09-Feb-2016
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SoE 2011 – Marine chapter overview
This presentation is one of a series of Australia State of the Environment 2011 (SoE 2011) presentations given by SoE Committee members or departmental staff following the release of the SoE 2011.
This material was developed as part of an oral presentation. The full report should be referred to for understanding of the context of this material.
For more information please refer to:http://www.environment.gov.auOr contact the SoE team via email:soe@environment.gov.au
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New cover page
Presentation – Marine chapter overviewPhoto: Aerial view of the Pilbara, by Andrew Griffiths, Lensaloft
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State of the Environment reporting
A report on the Australian environment must be tabled in Parliament every five years
No current regulations regarding scope, content or process All reports so far written by independent committees
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Purpose of SoE 2011
Provide relevant and useful information on environmental issues to the public and decision-makers...
… to raise awareness and support more informed environmental management decisions …
… leading to more sustainable use and effective conservation of environmental assets.
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State of the Environment 2011 Committee
ChairTom Hatton (Director, CSIRO Water for a Healthy Country)MembersSteven Cork (research ecologist and futurist) Peter Harper (Deputy Australian Statistician) Rob Joy (School of Global Studies, Social Science & Planning, RMIT) Peter Kanowski (Fenner School of Environment & Society, ANU) Richard Mackay (heritage specialist, Godden Mackay Logan) Neil McKenzie (Chief, CSIRO Land and Water) Trevor Ward (marine and fisheries ecologist)Barbara Wienecke – ex officio (Australian Antarctic Division, DSEWPaC)
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What’s new in 2011?
Improved relevance to decision makers
More detailed information
Discussion of the major drivers of change
Wide range of credible resources used in the analyses
Report-card style assessments of condition, pressures and management effectiveness
Discussions of current resilience and future risks
Outlooks
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Quality and credibility Independence – written by an independent committee with
relevant expertise, tasked with providing ‘accurate, robust and meaningful environmental reporting and identification of policy issues, but not for any particular policy position’
Authors sought best available evidence from credible sources
Extensive consultation
Workshops to determine consensus in expert opinion where evidence low
Transparency about quality of evidence and level of consensus
Peer reviewed (47+ reviewers of chapters and supplementary materials)
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SoE 2011 Products
Full report – hard copy and onlineSummary with 17 headlinesNine theme chapters – each with key findingsReport cards
In-Brief – hard copy and online 50 page summary of full report
Additional online materialsCommissioned reportsWorkshop reportsAdditional tables and figuresPeer review information
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Assessment summaries in the report
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Drivers chapter – context for rest of SoE
How are a changing climate, population growth and economic growth creating pressures on our environment?
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SoE 2011 Headlines
17 headlines
in summary
chapter give a
high level
overview of
the big issues
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Key Findings (in theme chapters)
‘key findings’
give an
overview of
more specific
conclusions
for each
theme
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What is the general state of the environment? Much of Australia is in good condition or improving
Wind erosion has decreased
Some major threats to vegetation cover are lessening
Water consumption has fallen considerably in recent years
Many urban air pollutants are on the decline
Use of public transport is on the rise
Other parts are in poor condition or deteriorating The East Antarctic Ice Sheet is losing billions of tonnes of ice a year
Soil acidification and pests and weeds are affecting large areas of the continent
Our natural and cultural heritage continues to be threatened
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Drivers of environmental change
The principal drivers of pressures on Australia’s environment—and its future condition—are climate variability and change, population growth and economic growth
It is likely that we are already seeing the effects of climate change in Australia
The Australian economy is projected to grow by 2.7% per year until 2050
Under the base scenario, Australia’s population of 22.2 million people in 2010 is projected to grow to 35.9 million by 2050
We have opportunities to decouple population and economic growth from pressure on our environment
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Persistent pressures on our environment Past decisions and practices have left ongoing impacts on
our environment Introduction of feral animals and weeds Land clearing Pollution Unsustainable water resource management Intense harvest of fish stocks Lack of integrated and supported management
Our changing climate, and growing population and economy, are now confronting us with new challenges
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The marine chapter contents
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Australia’s marine jurisdiction
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Decision Framework for SoE Marine Environment(bounding the system and decision problem)
SOE 2011 Marine Environment
Spatial Boundaries
Institutional and stakeholder
setting
Natural systems attributes, values and complexities
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State of the Environment marine reporting regions
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Attributes, values, complexities
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Economic importance of the marine environment
Oil and gas – estimated at around $22 billion in 2007-08
Fisheries and aquaculture - $2.2 billion in 2008-09, mainstay of Australia's renewable marine resources
Recreational and subsistencefishing – marine tourism and recreation, including fishing estimated to contribute $18.7 billion in 2007-08 (no data for subsistencefishing)
Photo: Aquaculture sea cages, Jurien Bay, WA – Trevor Ward, Greenward Consulting
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Key findings The overall condition of the Australian marine environment is
good Areas near the coast are suffering There are significant existing impacts on the oceans caused by
human activities An extended continental shelf has been granted The ocean climate is changing and we need to prepare to adapt Our understanding of major aspects of our unique biodiversity is
limited The lack of a nationally integrated approach inhibits effective
marine management
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Assessment structureSOE 2011 Marine Envi ronment
Condition and Trend
Biodiversity
Report Card Report Card Report Card
Ecosystem health
Physical , Chem ical processes
Rep or t
Car d
Pests, diseases,
algal bloom s
Rep or t
Car d
Pressures
Report Card
Effective Management
Report Card
Risks Remaining
Report Card
Outlook
summary
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State and trends of the national marine environment
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Marine biodiversity assessment
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State and trends of quality of habitats for species
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State and trends of species populations and groups
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State and trends of ecological processes
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Marine ecosystem health assessment
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State and trends of physical and chemical processes
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Pests, introduced species, diseases and algal blooms
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Pressures affecting the marine environment
Climate change
Fishing
Oil and gas exploration and production
Shipping and associated infrastructure
Aquaculture facilities
Catchment run-off and land-based sources of pollution
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Pressures affecting the marine environment
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Framework for assessing management effectiveness The parameters: 6 elements of management
Understanding Planning Inputs Processes Outputs Outcomes
Grades Very effective Effective Partially effective Ineffective
Photo by Gary Bell
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Effectiveness of marine management - progress
Ecosystem-based fisheries management introduced
A number of marine species listed under EPBC Act
Threat abatement plans developed
New major programs funded
Marine protected areas declared
Marine bioregional plans being developed
Photo by Darren Jew
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Effectiveness of marine management – issues
Poor coordination within and between jurisdictions
Regional objectives for strategic marine planning and
management lacking
Federal leadership limited
Integrated national system lacking
No national system for assessment and
monitoring against national objectives
Photo by Tourism WA
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Effectiveness of marine management Coastal urban development
Understanding: Good understanding of types and sources of pollution – effective, improving
Planning: strong regulatory measures being developed and applied – effective, stable
Inputs: resources for planning and management at all levels of government – effective, stable
Processes: incremental development prevails, national synthesis and integration lacking – partially effective, stable
Outputs: no agreed management system, low impact solutions – partially effective, improving
Outcomes: ongoing development, pollution and impacts on habitats – partially effective, stable
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Effectiveness of marine management Port facilities
Understanding: management issues and impacts well known – very effective, improving
Planning: advanced planning and approval systems – effective, improving
Inputs: limited resources to avoid impacts hindered by cost factors and operational requirements – effective, stable
Processes: localised management of issues, little management of cumulative impacts – effective, stable
Outputs: lacking sound integrated management, generic rule-based systems implemented – partially effective, improving
Outcomes: development driven by operational requirements, impacts on species and habitats – partially effective, improving
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Effectiveness of marine management Oil and gas exploration and production
Understanding: impacts well understood – effective, improving Planning: regional environmental planning and assessment
framework lacking – ineffective, stable Inputs: substantial resources applied to impact issues – effective,
stable Processes: site approval based on economic requirements, limited
cumulative impact assessment – partially effective, stable Outputs: strong regulatory regime at site level, lacking onsite
compliance systems – effective, improving Outcomes: increasing impact on marine mammals, risk of accidents
and oil spills – partially effective, stable
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Factors affecting marine resilience Structural biodiversity
Species types
Species distributions
Species abundance
Genetic diversity Gene diversity
Subpopulation differences
Distribution heterogeneity
Institutional support flexibility
networks Photo by Gary Bell
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Resilience and management outcome
Serial depletion Depleted stocks may not be resilient Fishdowns likely to have left Australia’s oceans less resilient
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Current and emerging risks
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Current and emerging risks – key risks Almost certain to occur + catastrophic consequences
Ocean warming Ocean acidification
Almost certain to occur + major consequences Port development/coastal urban development Fishing Marine debris Sea level rise Extreme or severe events Catchment-sourced pollution Algal blooms Ocean current changes
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Climate change impacts on Australia’s oceans
Marine climate change in Australia 2009 report card concluded: Australian ocean temperatures have warmed – SW and SE waters
warming fastest
East Australian Current has strengthened – likely to strengthen by another 20% by 2100
Marine biodiversity in SE changing – response to increasing temperatures & stronger EAC
Growth rates of massive corals on Great Barrier Reef declined by 10% - likely due to ocean acidification & thermal stress
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Outlook for the future Uncertain
Most aspects are currently not in decline Assets and values that are in poor condition are not recovering But – our knowledge base is very limited; few long term time series;
limited understanding of the stress-response relationships = limited predictability
No national time series for the condition of the major environmental assets/values
Looming threats Changing global climate Port development/coastal urban development Oil and gas exploration Variable between regions
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Supplementary products - online
Workshop results National summary results
Regional summary results
Commissioned reports
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Marine workshop – regional example
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Marine workshop – national summary example
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Intentions and impacts of SoE 2011...
Based on available information and expert opinion drawn from sources that are referenced in the marine chapter
Was designed to raise awareness and assist decision-makers
Highlights current issues that will require management responses to influence projected trends
Provides critical information, but can support change only if decision-makers consider and use it
www.environment.gov.au/soePhoto: Aerial view of the Pilbara, by Andrew Griffiths, Lensaloft
For more information email: soe@environment.gov.au
To order copiesemail: ciu@environment.gov.au
phone: 1800 803 772 or read it online: www.environment.gov.au/soe