Integrating Science with management of the Great Barrier Reef. Fergus Molloy Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

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1 Integrating Science with management of the Great Barrier Reef Fergus Molloy Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

2 Talk outline Introduction Science for management Monitoring & Research Some examples of management actions underpinned by science Threats and impacts The GBRWHA Strategic Assessment Conclusion

3 Introduction The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world's richest living landscapes

4 Great Barrier Reef Region Proclaimed in ,000 km 2 > 2,900 reefs

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Great Barrier Reef Region (primary object)

5 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Role Is to provide for long term protection and conservation of the environment, biodiversity and heritage values of the Great Barrier Reef Region (primary object) Allow ecologically sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Encourage community engagement in the protection and management of the Great Barrier Reef

6 Expedition hut Members of the British Expedition Low Isles Dr. Yonge and scientists 1928 Great Barrier Reef Expedition

7 Oil drilling on the Great Barrier Reef

8 Judith Wright & Royal Commission

9 Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area In 1981, the Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List. The World Heritage Area includes: an outer boundary that is identical to that of the Great Barrier Reef Region all Federal and State islands within the outer boundary (1050 islands) all waters seaward Mean Low Water, including State internal waters Total area 348,000 km 2

10 Science for management

11 Statement underpinning our management "Management of the Great Barrier Reef World heritage Area is based on the best available science" What if the available science is not relevant to management? How do we go about ensuring that the science being done is what management needs?

12 How do we determine our science information needs? Biodiversity Ecosystem Health Commercial & non commercial use Factors influencing values Existing protection & management Resilience Outlook

13 Gaps

14 Science needs for management

15 Scientific information needs for biodiversity components

16 Limited and limiting information gaps

17 Cost ($ / time / expertise) Targeted science: mapping research to management Limiting Knowledge Limited Knowledge Size Marshall 2012 Knowledge Gaps Management options

18 Scientific information needs for biodiversity components

19 Management cycle Is the framework by which our management effectiveness is assessed. Management needs scientific information at various steps in the management cycle Context Planning Outcomes Adaptive management Adapted from Hockings et al. 2006, IUCN WCPA

20 Use of scientific expertise in management We have a long standing partnership with the scientific community Expertise in management processes Reef Advisory Committees Management agency staff Consensus statements Review of management reports

21 Scientific institutions

22 Research stations

23 Monitoring >60 ongoing monitoring programs most are professional State and trends in: o Natural values o Social values o Economic values o Pressures o Threats All programs were put in place for good reasons but not many of our monitoring programs are directly linked to easily measurable management objectives and actions with targets... but this is changing. Currently reviewing management objectives and monitoring to fully integrate the two.

24 Citizen science Eye on the Reef Seagrass watch Coral Watch Mangrove watch Birdlife Australia ReefCheck and others

25 Governance of monitoring No overall governance of monitoring The GBRMPA has very little budget for monitoring (except for compliance) and only has a very small research budget. Long-term monitoring: Institutional or individual responsibility Some State government responsibility (fisheries) Short-term: Permit conditions industry Incidents government, industry and others Compliance: Federal and State governments This leads to coordination and long-term funding issues

26 Research funding: Science management engagement for better outcomes There are a number of ways in which engagement between management and scientific community helps to facilitate the delivery and integration of the research needed for management of the GBR: Articulating science needs to guide investment Decisions on where to invest Developing research and monitoring plans Project & task level engagement Research teams

27 Major research programs Major research programs supporting management of the Great Barrier Reef National Environmental Research Program: Tropical Ecosystems Reef Rescue R&D Program Reef Protection Package R&D Australian Research Council: ARC Centre of Excellence Great Barrier Reef Foundation: ereefs National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility Rural Research and Development Corporations Overlap between advisory and steering committees Overlap between research teams

analysis exercise o 70 reef and non-reef bioregions identified o Aim was to place at

28 Zoning of the Great Barrier Reef Zoning is our primary tool for protecting and managing biodiversity The Representative Areas Program a major information compilation and analysis exercise o 70 reef and non-reef bioregions identified o Aim was to place at least 20% of all bioregions in no-take Green Zones No-take reserves: 4.6% pre 2003, 33% post 2003 Zoning.

29 Zoning plan before 2003 Current zoning plan

Courtesy of Triggerfish Images The number and size of

30 Recovery & unexpected outcomes There are significantly fewer COTS outbreaks in zones closed to fishing. Courtesy of Triggerfish Images The number and size of coral trout is increasing rapidly in zones closed to fishing.

31 Fish larval subsidies from reserves to fished areas 83% of Coral Trout larvae are exported from reserves (green) to fished areas. Reserves cover only 28% of this Area but account for half of all recruitment in fished and reserve areas reserves work. 53% of Stripey Snapper larvae are exported from reserves (green) to fished areas. Harrison et al. 2012

32 Vulnerability Threats: Climate change Highest risks Increasing sea temperature Ocean acidification Rising sea level Almost all Great Barrier Reef species will be affected by climate change, some seriously Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (ppm)

33 Threats: Extreme weather 2002 Mass Bleaching 2005 TC Ingrid (5) 2006 TC Larry (5) TC Monica (3) 2007 Regional Bleaching 2009 Flooding Heat stress TC Hamish (5) 2010 Flooding TC Ului (3) 2011 Flooding TC Yasi (5) Bureau of Meteorology

34 Cumulative footprint

35 Cumulative footprint

36 Cumulative footprint

37 Cumulative footprint

38 Cumulative footprint

39 Cyclone Yasi damage

40 Threats: Crown-of-thorns Starfish

41 Management of crown-ofthorns starfish

42 Coral decline De'ath et al. 2012

43 Extreme Weather Impacts on Dugongs

44 Extreme Weather Impacts on Marine Turtles

45 Threats: Catchment runoff Highest risks Dissolved inorganic nitrogen Nutrients Pesticides Sediments Herbicides Pre-European

A shifted baseline Coral species vary in their sensitivity to pressures Acropora species are sensitive to nutrients & sediments from land runoff. They are also most sensitive to cyclones and floods.

46 A shifted baseline Coral species vary in their sensitivity to pressures Acropora species are sensitive to nutrients & sediments from land runoff. They are also most sensitive to cyclones and floods. Acropora populations collapsed on inshore GBR reefs between 1920 and 1955 having been remarkably stable for centauries up to that point Chronic increases in sediment and nutrient loading following European settlement are thought to have reduced the resilience to acute pressures of cyclones and floods. Roff et al. 2012

47 Threats: Coastal development Highest risks Loss of coastal habitats Marine debris Coastal development is affecting coastal habitats that support the Great Barrier Reef and connectivity between habitats

Need for a Strategic Assessment Unprecedented growth in coastal development - ports and shipping, urban and industrial development Pressures

48 Need for a Strategic Assessment Unprecedented growth in coastal development - ports and shipping, urban and industrial development Pressures on inshore biodiversity World Heritage Committee Concerns regarding approval of port facilities within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

GBR Strategic Assessment In February 2012, Federal (GBRMPA) and State (Queensland) Governments committed to undertaking a strategic assessment to examine the effectiveness of management

49 GBR Strategic Assessment In February 2012, Federal (GBRMPA) and State (Queensland) Governments committed to undertaking a strategic assessment to examine the effectiveness of management arrangements to protect Great Barrier Reef values The strategic assessment is being carried out under the Federal environment law Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

50 Conclusion Adoption of the adaptive management cycle has given more formal structure to integrating science into management We have processes in place to identify the science needed for management Working on better integration of monitoring Engagement across research programs working well The Strategic Assessment is an opportunity to streamline research and monitoring funding and coordination for the GBR through its recommendations.

51 And finally... Great Barrier Reef is still one of the world's natural wonders but... Outlook for Reef is poor, mostly due to climate change Future depends on global efforts to mitigate and local efforts to adapt and increase resilience

52 Thank you Acknowledgements The organisers for inviting the GBRMPA to present Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and World Heritage management agencies Further information:

GREAT BARRIER REEF. Climate Change Action Plan

GREAT BARRIER REEF. Climate Change Action Plan GREAT BARRIER REEF Climate Change Action Plan 2007 2011 Climate change is now recognised as the greatest long-term threat to the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is internationally renowned as