Environmental remediation of vessel damage within the Great Barrier Reef

Transcription

1 Great Barrier Reef Environmental remediation of vessel damage within the Great Barrier Reef 11 April 2013, Spillcon 2013, Cairns Dr Adam Smith, Dr Brett Kettle, Rean Gilbert Content 1.Great Barrier Reef 2.Remediation 3.Vessel and shipping incidents 4.Lessons learned and the future

2 What is remediation? Definitions of remediation 1. The correction of something bad or defective. 2. The act or process of remedying or repairing damage to an ecosystem. Why remediate? De ath et al. (2012) The 27 year decline of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef and its causes. PNAS Early Edition

3 Changes over time Remediation Order The Federal Court may make an order (a remediation order ) requiring the person to take action to prevent, repair or mitigate harm to the environment in the Marine Park that has been, might be or will be caused by the conduct This must be based on: (a) the nature and extent of the conduct; (b) the nature and extent of the harm to the environment ; (c) the circumstances in which the person engaged in the conduct; (d) objectives specified for the zone in its zoning plan; (e) whether the person has previously engaged in any similar conduct; (f) the cost; (g) any benefit (whether or not financial GBRMPA Act SECT 61AHA Practical Remediation? Management Remediation Environmental Issues Water Quality decline Biodiversity decline Coastal development increase Climate Change impacts Shipping incident Example of Remediation management action $200 million dollar Reef Plan to halt and reverse decline Zoning Plan and Protected Species Restore natural habitats Increase ecosystem resilience Remove TBT, stabilise loose boulders, coral transplantation?

4 Remediation Benefits Incidents NO REMEDIATION AFTER THE PEACOCK INCIDENT Hard Coral Cover - Peacock (Video) REMEDIATION CONDUCTED AFTER THE BUNGA INCIDENT Hard Coral Cover - Bunga Teratai Satu (Video) %HCC %HCC Cargo vessel Peacock Bunga Teratai Satu Years Years Source: QPWS field monitoring Cargo vessel Doric Chariot Bulk carrier Shen Neng Shipping The oil spill mind-set ~11,000 m 2 of reef damaged

5 Grounding impacts need incident management Impacts: Groundings 120,000 Severe Damage Area (m 2 ) 100,000 80,000 60,000 40,000 20,000 0 Peacock 1996 Bunga Teratai Satu 2000 Doric Chariot 2002 Shen Neng Grounding Impacts of Groundings o Physical impacts o Chemical anti-fouling o Water quality impacts o Algal blooms o Impacts on fish o Impacts on other users o Reputation and financial costs

6 Rapid ageing of broken coral Vessel incidents increasing 3 days 5 weeks 250 GBRMPA small vessel incidents recorded Cyclones Ului and Yasi (2010 & 2011) Sinking/Grounding 8 months 100 Small vessels < 50 metres Total Incidents Remediation paint removal Comparison of cumulative impact management Type Number per year? Size (m 2 ) Prevention & Planning Response & Remediation Anchor damage Recreational craft groundings Commercial vessels groundings Ship groundings 1000 s- 10,000 s m 2 5m 2 Some? 0.25m 2 50m 2 Some Some 5m 2 500m 2 Yes Some 1000m 2 400,000m 2 Yes Yes

7 Lessons learnt from groundings in the GBR o Respond quickly, undertake assessment and work with ship owner\p&i club\stakeholders o Multi-disciplinary team is required and must have agreed objectives and tools to ensure clean-up o Any works will take significantly longer than expected o Communication of results for the benefit of others plays no small part in future accident prevention or harm minimisation Comparison for Groundings VESSEL LOCATION DAMAGE COSTS NOTES Count Ship Houston USS Port Royal Bunga Teratai Satu Shen Neng 1 Florida 5,333 sq. m USD 5.7 million Hawaii 40,000 sq m USD $7 million USD 8.5 million Phillipines $300m2 $300m2 Australia GBR Australia GBR 1500 sq m Penalty 411,000 Clean-up 1 million ,000 sq. m 2300 sq. m crushed coral and 3000 sq. m broken pieces of coral Costs for 5,400 loose coral colonies Settlement Damages Restoration? discussion with ship owner representatives are continuing Lessons learned from reef rehabilitation Halt and Reverse decline Different stakeholders may have different expectations of a rehabilitation project. To avoid later conflict or disappointment, the aims of all groups of stakeholders need to be articulated clearly and discussed openly. Risks to the rehabilitation project should be frankly and openly discussed at the outset to avoid later disillusionment of communities if things go wrong. There are no quick fixes in reef rehabilitation.

8 How we will do it? Desired outcomes A healthy Great Barrier Reef ecosystem Avoid and mitigate impacts Environmentally safe, incident free shipping Immediate remediation of grounding site paid by polluter Grounding impacts treated with the same expertise and commitment as oil spill impacts Stewardship and collaboration with community and industry