Nautilus (Dr M. Norman, Museum Victoria) Butterfly fish & Yellowback Fusiliners (R.Thorn) Soft coral and diver (M. Ball) Tiger Anemone (L. Wiseman) Whale Shark (Paradise Ink)

Australia’s Marine Bioregional Planning

And possible lessons for areas beyond national jurisdiction

www.environment.gov.au

www.environment.gov.au

What is Marine Bioregional Planning?A basis for ecosystem-based management at a “landscape” scaleAcross sectors and relevant spatial and temporal scales

Focused on defining the “E” in ESDNot centralised integrated planning and management

Inform environmental regulation and programs e.g. Marine protected areas, environmental impact

assessment

A guide to sectoral managemente.g. informing ecosystem-based fisheries management

www.environment.gov.au

The scale of the planning effort

www.environment.gov.au

What does the planning involve?

Describe the marine environment and conservation values of each marine region Identify regional priorities based on analysis of pressures to conservation values Outline strategies and actions to address regional priorities

www.environment.gov.au

Conservation valuesIssues protected under federal environmental lawe.g. World Heritage Areas, threatened species

Key Ecological Featuresparts of the marine ecosystem that are important

for biodiversity or ecosystem function and integrityAnalogous to EBSAs

Biologically important areasareas where a protected species displays biologically

important behaviour such as breeding, foraging, resting and migration.

www.environment.gov.au

ExamplesA key ecological feature - small pelagic fish in the South-westprovide a link between primary production and higher predators. Fluctuations in their abundance have potentially serious implications for the health and productivity of the South-west marine environment.

A biologically important area - Western Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island important breeding areas and foraging grounds for the threatened Australian sea lion.

www.environment.gov.au

Regional priorities

Key issues that should inform decision-making about marine conservation, management, industry development and other human activities.

Based on a pressure analysis a review of present and emerging pressures, their

impact on conservation values, and the effectiveness management arrangements in place.

www.environment.gov.au

Strategies to address identified prioritiesInclude…

Establish and manage representative marine protected areas

Guidance on the application of environmental impact assessment requirements

Priority issues for improved fisheries management

Priorities for threatened species recovery actions

Priorities for research and understanding

www.environment.gov.au

Marine protected areas

www.environment.gov.au

Guidance on environmental impact assessment

Actions that have a real chance or possibility of resulting in: modification, destruction, fragmentation, isolation or disturbance of an important or substantial area of habitat in the area around the Houtman Abrolhos Islands a substantial change in water quality in the area around the Houtman Abrolhos Islands persistent organic chemicals, heavy metals or other potentially harmful chemicals accumulating in the area around the Houtman Abrolhos Islands

have a high risk of significant impact on the marine environment.

www.environment.gov.au

Priorities for fisheries management

Examples from the draft South West Plan

develop improved management initiatives for the bycatch of protected species— particularly school shark, white shark and Australian sea lion—focusing on improving understanding of the cumulative effects of bycatch across multiple fisheries and the establishment of ongoing monitoring indicators

improve fisheries interaction data sets for cetaceans

www.environment.gov.au

Lessons and observations for ABNJ

Conservation and sustainable use is more effectively achieved through a “landscape” scale approach.Across sectors and relevant spatial and temporal scales Utilising the right tools in the right places

Understanding the “E” in ESD is the foundation A basis for conservation measuresA basis for coordinated efforts across sectoral managers A basis for evaluation and accountability

It’s easier said than doneBut the foundations already exist – e.g. EBSAs, Regular

Process, regional frameworks