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2009/MRCWG/006
Agenda Item: 1
Economy Report - Australia
Purpose: Information
Submitted by: Australia
22nd Marine Resource Conservation Working
Group Meeting
Vancouver, Canada
1-3 June 2009
PROGRESS ON MARINE RESOURCE CONSERVATION
AUSTRALIA AGAINST THE BALI PLAN OF ACTION PILLARS
Australia has made significant progress for a number of marine resource conservation priorities during
2008/09. These achievements are described below against the Bali Plan of Action (BPA) pillars.
BPA Pillar I.a. Understanding Oceans, Seas and Coasts
Australia has made substantial progress in implementing BPA Pillar 1 domestically and is also
working with other economies through project and programme based activities to further implement
BPA Pillar 1.
Oceans observation and data collection
The Australian Government, through the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology, Royal Australian
Navy and CSIRO has initiated BLUElink Ocean forecasting Australia, a $15 million project to deliver
ocean forecasts for the Australian region. The BLUElink ocean forecast system became operational in
August 2007. The system provides analyses and predictions out to 7 days of a range of oceanic
conditions for the Australian Region, and encompasses a significant part of regional seas in SE Asia,
SW Pacific and Indian Ocean. Forecast products are freely available within Australia and externally,
through the Bureau of Meteorology website http://www.bom.gov.au/bluelink/.
Implementation of the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) began in 2007. IMOS is a nationwide collaborative program designed to observe the oceans around Australia, including the coastal
oceans and the ‘bluewater’ open oceans. This provides a range of enhancements to in situ ocean
observations from the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans, to support oceanographic research. The
data from IMOS will be freely available and distributed to APEC member economies, primarily via the
Global Telecommunication System of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
Climate change
Australia is undertaking a number of activities related to understanding the impacts of climate change
on the marine environment both within its domestic programs as well as at the regional and
international level. Progress in relation to the recommendations of the Council of Australian
Governments (COAG) 2007 National Climate Change Adaptation Framework 1 and other initiatives is
outlined below. Specific recommendations of the COAG Framework relevant to climate change
impacts on marine resources include:
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the development of a Climate Change & Fisheries Action Plan
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research, in association with industry and research providers, to address major knowledge
gaps about the impacts of climate change on wild fisheries and aquaculture
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a national program to understand the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, including
marine ecosystems
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finalisation and implementation of a climate change action plan for the Great Barrier Reef.
The National Climate Change Adaptation Framework also focuses on improving the coordination of
national adaptation research, including for biodiversity. To this end, the new National Climate Change
Adaptation Reseach Facility (www.nccarf.edu.au) has established research networks for terrestrial
biodiversity, marine biodiversity and resources, and water resources and freshwater biodiversity. The
Marine Biodiversity Adaptation Research Network is coordinated by the University of Tasmania.
Associated National Adaptation Research Plans are also being developed by the Adaptation
Research Facility in consultation with Australian governments and the research community.
The Marine Biodiversity and Resources National Adaptation Research Plan, due to be released by
mid 2009, will focus primarily on research to inform Australian governments’, industries and
communities’ adaptation to climate change impacts on marine biodiversity and resources within the
Australian marine environment, including Antarctica and Southern Ocean territories. Research,
observations and measurement systems have been given high priority where they will inform the
1
The National Climate Change Adaptation Framework was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments
(COAG) in April 2007
design of adaptation policies or strategies or help implement adaptation actions by relevant people
and organisations. Research on the nature of climate change impacts per se is not emphasized
unless such research was considered essential to fill a void in understanding adaptation options.
The Plan will focus on research to inform strategies addressing climate change impacts on:

Marine-dependent species and ecosystems, including those in the ocean, estuaries, and
coastal saline wetlands and beaches, including production at the base of marine food webs;

Physical features of habitats for the above species, including processes such as increased
inundation of wetlands, coastal erosion, nutrient distributions, and warming and pH related
changes in the ocean as they affect the dependent species;

Physical conditions in the marine environment (e.g. weather and wave climates) that directly
affect people’s access to marine resources;

Social conditions in marine-dependent or associated communities;

The economic viability of activities or communities that depend on marine biodiversity and
resources; and
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The options for governance and management of the marine environment and regulation of its
uses.
The Plan does not address implications for non-living resources such as oil, gas, minerals, or access
to transport (shipping). Nor does it address freshwater aquaculture and fishing activities, which are
covered by the National Adaptation Research Plan for Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity.
Australia is undertaking a national assessment of Australia’s coastal vulnerability to climate change,
which is due to be completed by late 2008. The assessment will focus primarily on estimating the
vulnerability of our coastline, coastal settlements, infrastructure and ecosystems to the impacts of
rising sea levels, changing rainfall patterns and stronger cyclones. A number of coastal climate
change case studies are relevant to the marine environment, including a study exploring the
implications of climate change for the Tasmanian Rock Lobster industry. A report is expected to be
released by mid 2009.
The report from a preliminary study of climate change impacts on Australian fisheries and aquaculture,
undertaken for the Department of Climate Change by the Australian Government’s Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), was released in October 2008. This study
provides an initial assessment of the state of knowledge on climate change and fisheries and
aquaculture in Australia. Also released in early 2009 was a scoping study into adaptation of the
Tasmanian salmonid aquaculture industry to potential impacts of climate change. This study was
undertaken by the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute and CSIRO’s Climate Adaptation
Flagship under the Australian Government’s National Agriculture & Climate Change Action Plan:
Implementation Programme.
A National Climate Change Action Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture is under development. Led by
the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in consultation with the recreational and
commercial wild catch and aquaculture sectors, fishery managers, environmental agencies and others,
this plan is due for completion in 2009. The overarching objective of the Action Plan is to assist
fishers from all fishing sectors adapt to unavoidable impacts of, and, where relevant, mitigate the
effects of their operations on, climate change.
Activities related to the impact of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef include:
 A comprehensive assessment of the vulnerability to climate change of the Great Barrier Reef,
including species, habitats, coastal communities and industries (Johnson & Marshall 2007);
 A Plan of Action to minimize the impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, coastal
communities and reef-based industries; The Department of Climate Change has partnered with
the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to prepare a five-year Climate Change Action Plan
2007-12. Funding to the value of $8.9 m has been provided under the National Climate Change
Adaptation Framework for its implementation.
 Development of a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef tourism industry.
Marine bioregional planning
The South-west Marine Bioregional Profile was released in October 2007 followed by Bioregional
Profiles for the North-west and North Marine Regions in November 2008. The Bioregional Profile for
the East Marine Region will be released shortly. The information presented in the Profiles is drawn
from a variety of sources, including scientific papers, commissioned reports, industry performance
reporting, census data and expert advice. The Profile describes the ecosystems of the region,
outlines its conservation values and spells out the goals and principles that will guide the identification
and design of representative MPAs in the region. The Bioregional Profiles can be accessed at
http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/mbp/index.html
Marine invasive species (biosecurity)
The Australian Government is progressing the implementing the National System for the Prevention
and Management of Marine Pest Incursions. This has included the development of (voluntary)
biofouling management guidelines for specific industry sectors; the development of National Control
Plans for established marine pests ; the development of rapid response manuals to support rapid and
effective responses to pest incursions, the review of guidelines to support monitoring for marine pests
and the development of new national ballast water arrangements
BPA Pillar I.b. Managing Marine Environment Sustainably
Economic valuation of the marine sector
The Australian Government is exploring approaches to the economic valuation of marine resources.
The Australian Government has invested Commonwealth Environmental Research Facility funds in a
number of projects looking at marine economics issues at both the national level (see
http://www.crawford.anu.edu.au/research_units/eerh/index.php) and off tropical Queensland (see
http://www.environment.gov.au/programs/cerf/marine-tropical.html). The Great Barrier Reef Marine
Park Authority commissions Access Economics to prepare annual reports of the values of industries
in the Great Barrier Reef and its catchment to provide an ongoing assessment of trends and changes
in these values (Access Economics 2007).
Marine protected areas
Australia has over 200 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which cover approximately 88 million
hectares. The Commonwealth is responsible for 27 marine protected areas which includes a diversity
of habitats from shallow tropical reef systems of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea Reserves to
deep southern ocean seamounts of the South East Reserve Network.
Australia is making good progress in the implementation of a national representative system of MPAs.
In 2007, over 22 million hectares of marine reserves were declared as part of the Commonwealth
estate of marine protected areas. Australia’s state and territory governments (responsible for coastal
waters) have also continued to develop and declare MPAs.
Ecosystem based fisheries management
Australia has focused greater efforts on implementing a coordinated, ecosystem-based fisheries
management (EBFM) approach across all its fisheries to ensure sustainable fisheries management.
Implementation of EBFM has been focused through a number of key initiatives:
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Ecological risk assessments to determine ecosystem priorities for management or research and
developing management responses for these priorities;
Developing and implementing Bycatch and Discard Workplans (BDWs) and Bycatch Action Plans
(BAPs) in Commonwealth-managed fisheries in accordance with Australia’s national and
Commonwealth policies on fisheries bycatch;
The development of a Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy and harvest strategies for target
species in all applicable fisheries, to ensure that net economic returns to the Australian
community are maximised while ensuring that fish stocks remain at safe and productive levels;
Enhanced fisheries planning and coordination to improve understanding and management
decisions;
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Bycatch reduction initiatives to encourage the industry to develop and implement approaches or
devices that lead to bycatch reduction;
Implementing spatial management via both fisheries regulation and conservation-oriented MPAs;
and
Communication and extension with industry through media, port visits and liaison officers to build
the capacity of fishers to implement EBFM.
Policy initiatives such as BDWs/BAPS and harvest strategies are subject to regular review to ensure
their effectiveness as EBFM tools.
Australia is working with Indonesia and East Timor through the Arafura and Timor Seas Expert Forum
(ATSEF) in the pursuit of sustainable use of the living resources in the region. ATSEF has recently
secured funding from the United Nations Global Environment Facility (GEF) for the Arafura and Timor
Seas Ecosystem Action Programme (ATSEA) which has the following goals:
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Ecologically sustainable use and management of the living coastal and marine resources
(including fisheries and biodiversity) of the Arafura and Timor Seas region, and
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Improved, sustainable socio-economic conditions and opportunities for coastal peoples of the
Arafura and Timor Seas region
Marine debris
The Australian Government is currently developing a Threat Abatement Plan in response to the listing
of 'Injury and fatality to vertebrate marine life caused by ingestion of, or entanglement in, harmful
marine debris’ under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Threat
Abatement Plan will provide a national framework for the coordinated implementation of measures to
prevent and mitigate the impacts of harmful marine debris on marine species. The Plan will be
released in 2009.
The APEC project which Australia was project overseer of, ‘Understanding the economic benefits and
costs of controlling marine debris in the APEC region’ has been completed, and is available on the
APEC website. Three outreach sessions based around the report findings have been held in the
region.
Coral reefs and Other Vulnerable Areas
Australia is working to improve the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon from
adjacent catchments through the $200 million Reef Rescue component of the Caring for our Country
initiative (see last item), as well as the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). The Reef Plan,
currently being updated, will coordinate the activities and investments of the Australian and
Queensland governments, natural resource management bodies and agricultural industry bodies. As
an adjunct, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) has established a
comprehensive marine monitoring programme to assess changes in the Great Barrier Reef’s water
quality and ecosystem health.
Australia has completed a comprehensive assessment of the vulnerability to climate change of the
Great Barrier Reef, including species, habitats, coastal communities and industries (Johnson &
Marshall 2007). Australia has also developed a Plan of Action to minimize the impacts of climate
change on the Great Barrier Reef, coastal communities and reef-based industriesi.
A Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Great Barrier Reef tourism industry is under
development.
At the regional scale, the Australian Government is firmly committed to supporting the Coral Triangle
Initiative (CTI) and has offered to assist governments in the Coral Triangle region through sharing its
extensive expertise in coral reef and fisheries management. The Australian Government hosted a
workshop in November 2008 that brought together the CTI member countries and regional experts
providing a forum to discuss the aspirations, needs and challenges involved in implementing the CTI.
These discussions provided the focus and direction to continue to develop both the regional and
national CTI plans of action.
BPA Pillar I.c. Managing Living Resources Sustainably
Marine species conservation
Australia attended the 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in Rome, December 2008. Australia also
attended the second Meeting to Identify and Elaborate an Option for International Cooperation on
Migratory Sharks under the CMS in Rome in December 2008 and is currently progressing a
Memorandum of Understanding for migratory sharks conservation.
The Australian Government attended the informal meeting of Signatory States to the CMS
Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs and their habitats
throughout their Range in Bali during August 2008, and the 5th Meeting of Signatory States of IOSEA
Marine Turtle MoU Signatory States also in Bali in August 2008.
Australia will also be attending the upcoming CMS meeting for the Memorandum of Understanding for
the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region in Noumea, New
Caledonia in July 2009 and an informal meeting of SPREP members to discuss the potential for a
wider pacific arrangement for marine turtles, to be held at the same time.
BPA Pillar III. Enabling Sustainable Development of Coastal Communities
All tiers of government in Australia are working towards sustainable development of coastal
communities through a number of national and local initiatives, including:
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Australian Federal, State, Territory and Local Governments are working cooperatively through the
2006 National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management Framework and
Implementation Plan (ICZM Framework) to protect Australia’s coastal zone.
Other important programmes include Australia’s National Programme of Action for the Protection
of the Marine Environment from Land based Activities, the National Water Quality Management
Strategy, the Coastal Catchments Initiative, the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan and the newly
announced Reef Rescue Plan
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Climate Change, Water, Environment and the
Arts current inquiry into Climate change and environmental impacts on coastal communities was
referred by the Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts,
and Senator the Hon Penny Wong, the Minister for Climate Change and Water, in March 2008. The
inquiry is focusing on issues related to climate change and environmental pressures experienced by
Australian coastal areas, particularly in the context of coastal population growth. This includes the
impact of climate change on coastal areas and strategies to deal with climate change adaptation,
particularly in response to projected sea level rise. It is anticipated that the report will be tabled in
Parliament in 2009. Further information is available at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/House/committee/ccwea/coastalzone/index.htm
Caring for our Country Initiative
The Australian Government is providing funding through the Caring for our Country initiative to reduce
the threats to our coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats. The Australian Government will
deliver outcomes for these important areas - including protecting Ramsar wetlands, improving the
water quality discharged into coastal environments and increasing coastal community participation.
Australia
May 2009