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Protecting our Se a s & Shor es Priorities for marine conservation in

Summary of the VNPA’s Nature Conservation Review: Marine Conservation Priorities and Issues for Victoria, 2010 An inquisitive Smooth Toadfish swims over seagrass meadow at Middle Brighton beach. Photo courtesy John Gaskell from the book Beneath Our Bay

CONTACT DETAILS CONTENTS Victorian National Parks Association Victoria’s marine parks, the case for greater protection ...... 3 Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Climate change turns up the heat on our fragile marine world ...... 4-5 Carlton, VIC 3053 Marine parks and sanctuaries, critical for life in our oceans ...... 6-7 Phone: 03 9347 5188 Fax: 03 9347 5199 Our coastlines are home to an amazing diversity of marine life ...... 8-13 Email: [email protected] Priority areas identified for marine protection in Victoria ...... 14-15 Web: www.vnpa.org.au Mapping the need for change in Victoria’s marine parks system ...... 16-17 Our bays, inlets and estuaries, treasures worth protecting ...... 18-20 What is required to protect Victoria’s marine treasures ...... 21-22 You can help! ...... 23

ABOUT THE VNPA The Victorian National Parks Association running bushwalking and outdoor activity Conservation Review: Marine Conservation (VNPA) is Victoria’s leading nature programs which promote the care and Priorities and Issues for Victoria, produced conservation organisation. We are an enjoyment of Victoria’s natural heritage. by Australian Marine Ecology, 2010. independent, non-profit, membership- We have a vision of a diverse and It was written by Paige Shaw, VNPA based group, which exists to protect resilient Victorian marine environment, Marine and Coastal Officer, and Executive Victoria’s unique natural environment and protected for future generations through an Director Matt Ruchel. For the full report, biodiversity through the establishment and extensive network of highly protected areas recommendations, references and effective management of national parks, at the core of a comprehensive system of acknowledgements, contact VNPA. conservation reserves and other measures. marine conservation and management. For more information about We will achieve our vision by facilitating Victoria’s unique marine environment strategic campaigns and education ABOUT THIS REPORT visit www.marine.vnpa.org.au or programs, developing policies, through This is an abridged version of the Victorian email [email protected] to receive hands-on conservation work, and by National Parks Association’s Nature our ebulletin.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The VNPA would like to thank The Dara Foundation and the Reichstein Foundation for their support. Front cover photo: Old Wives, Dave Bryant. The report was designed and edited by John Sampson, and printed in by Tara Press on 100% recycled paper. ISBN 978-1-875100-29-3 Erratum note: Final version includes map revision. Refer to page 14 for correct location of Crawfish Rock.

2 – Protecting our Seas & Shores Victoria’s marine environment is something to treasure and enjoy. Photo: John Sampson Victoria’s marine parks, the case for greater protection any people may not immediately makers have the political will. We are see what makes our coastline seeking commitments from all political and marine environment so parties to protect 20% of Victoria’s marine M Matt Ruchel special. But dive into the surf or plunge environment by 2012. into the water at any one of Victoria’s 123 VNPA Executive Director As the sole state-based environmental bays or estuaries, and you’ll experience organisation working on marine and the wondrous array of marine life teeming coastal conservation issues in Victoria under the surface. We now have an exciting opportunity it is up to us to lead the way to increase Whether you like to swim, dive, surf, to really progress our marine and coastal protection of our seas and shores. This is spend time by the sea with your family or conservation work. has agreed especially important as climate change is simply stroll across rocky headlands and to international commitments that very likely to have a profound impact on sandy beaches, our fantastically varied would protect 20-30% of our marine marine and coastal environments. marine and coastal landscape is something environment by 2012, and we want to Our vision is for a diverse and we can all treasure and enjoy. ensure that Victoria is a world leader in resilient Victorian marine environment In 2002, after almost 10 years of work, marine protection. safeguarded for future generations VNPA was able to ensure that 5.3% of We have been preparing for this through an extensive network of highly Victoria’s marine waters were protected. opportunity by working hard over the past protected areas forming the core of a Thanks to our supporters, a world-class two years with leading scientists, collating comprehensive marine conservation and system of 13 parks and 11 sanctuaries was and interpreting information from VNPA’s management system. created. We want to build on that success. scientific Nature Conservation Review to We have an opportunity to act now. The Victorian marine environment is formulate our future marine and coastal I look forward to your support. unique, with 80% of its plants and animals conservation work. From this review we found nowhere else on earth. Yet despite have identified 20 priority areas needing this extraordinary fact only 5.3% of it is protection, key threats to our marine protected compared to almost 18% of our environment, and gaps in the terrestrial environment. reserve system of marine sanctuaries and We need to protect more of our marine parks. environment to ensure that one of the This work has helped us develop a Yours sincerely, most diverse coastal regions in the world five-point action plan. However, the Matt Ruchel is safely guarded for future generations. key to success is ensuring that decision Executive Director

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 3 THREATS TO OUR OCEANS Climate change turns up the heat on our fragile marine world ising sea levels, increasing ocean and growing ocean Racidity are just some of the many climate change will place on our fragile marine environment. On their own they would be formidable challenges, but sadly they will only compound already serious marine threats, including mounting pest problems, overfishing of marine stocks, pollution and over-development of our coastal areas. If Victoria is to have a marine environment strong enough to withstand these challenges, we must improve the way we manage our marine ecosystems by protecting significant habitats and, as a matter of urgency, addressing all current threats to our seas and shores. A rock lobster hides under a rocky ledge in Bay. Photo: Bill Boyle, courtesy DSE THE DOMINO EFFECT rock lobster fishing industry but would Rising ocean acidity also have a dramatic impact on our One consequence of ocean acidification Probably the greatest threat to the future marine ecosystem, where the rock of our marine world is ocean acidification, would be to rob many marine animals 1,2,3,4 lobster plays a key role in keeping sea a direct result of unsustainable amounts of their ability to produce shells . urchin numbers under control. of carbon dioxide being pumped into the The most obvious example of how If left unchecked by their natural earth’s atmosphere. this would affect Victoria’s marine predator the rock lobster, sea urchin As we increase our carbon emissions environment is its predicted impacts on numbers could explode, allowing our seas are being forced to absorb the state’s rock lobster fishery. them to overgraze and destroy ever-greater quantities of CO2, lowering The loss of this species from our much of Victoria’s extensive kelp the overall pH balance in our oceans and waters would not only obliterate the beds and forests. slowly turning them acidic. If ocean acidification occurs on a large enough scale it will have irreversible An uncertain future In Victoria, bays and estuaries are most threatened by climate change, but and catastrophic consequences for land- As well as ocean acidification and more its effects could be felt anywhere along based and marine environments, carrying frequent and severe weather events, the coast. It is already being blamed for incalculable human costs and leading to climate change will mean rising sea levels, declining seagrass beds in Port Phillip Bay9. the collapse of entire marine ecosystems. warmer water temperatures and dramatic changes to ocean currents. And planktonic species, the organisms Rough waters ahead Global sea levels are predicted to rise that live in intertidal areas and mangrove 10 Another area of increasing alarm for by up to 0.8 metres, which could result plants , will suffer from increasing salinity marine scientists is the effect changing in parts of the Victorian coast moving up in coastal waters and reduced coastal atmospheric conditions will have on to 80 metres inland7. Rising sea levels will runoff from lower rainfall averages. phytoplankton, the single-celled plants affect low-lying coastal populations at that drift through our oceans forming the intertidal areas, mangroves and wetlands8. Other threats basis of the marine food web. Habitats that cannot retreat because of Introduced pest plants and animals can Scientists fear that increasingly coastal developments may be lost entirely. dramatically alter ecosystems, often with turbulent ocean waters could have serious Changing sea temperatures and devastating effects. Pest species such as repurcussions for phytoplankton growth, currents will significant changes the carnivorous Northern Pacific Seastar causing negative impacts right along to the biological make-up of marine are extending their range around the the marine food chain and ultimately communities, for example through the southern Australian coastline, preying on endangering species such as fish, seals, invasion of pest species as warmer waters native species as they go. whales and penguins. allow them to claim new areas. Fishing has a profound influence on Seagrass beds and mangroves could Major changes to ocean currents marine conservation values in Victoria, also be in trouble, with an increase in will affect the distribution of larvae in not only affecting the species being storm severity and coastal flooding leading Victoria’s marine environment, with fished, but also having indirect impacts on to greater destruction of these important serious and unpredictable consequences other marine species, communities and but fragile ecosystems5,6. for many species. ecological processes11.

4 – Protecting our Seas & Shores TABLE 1: LOCATION OF KEY THREATS IN VICTORIAN MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS Bioregion Discovery Bay Surf Coast Wilsons Promontory Ninety Mile Victorian Bays to the Otways to Venus Bay Region Beach and Inlets and Seal islands and Deen Maar Channel Flinders Western Bass Coast Croajingalong Mallacoota inlets Channel to North Arm Channel to North Channels to San Remo and Nooramunga inlets Discovery Bay to Discovery Bay to Portland Cape Grant, Warrnambool Narrawong to Campbell to Cape Otway Port Marengo to Barwon Phillip Heads to Port and Southern Phillip Is. Bay Warratah Inverloch to Isthmus to Shellback Is. Yanakie Anser Glennie, Norman, Pt to South Tongue Bay Waterloo Roaring Meg to Whale Rock to Wellington Cape Ninety Mile Beach and Lakes Entrance Pt Hicks and Beware , Isand to Cape Howe Tullaberga Phillip Bay – west Port Phillip Bay – east Port West – Port Western – Northern Port Western Corner, Shallow, Anderson, Lakes and Tamboon Sydenham,

Threats • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Catchment activities Discharges and pollution Oil/gas Shipping Ports and harbours Dredging Pests Pathogens Algal blooms Fishing – scallops Fishing – trawl/seine Fishing – selective reef Fishing – net/line/other Fishing – recreational Aquaculture Coastal development Population and visitation Subsea infrastructure Climate change

Their impacts on water quality include OUR GROWING IMPACTS changes in salinity and increased • As human populations increase in coastal nutrients, which can cause algal blooms areas, native vegetation is coming under that remove and result in fish increasing from urban sprawl, kills13. development, weeds, disease, recreational Land-based activities contribute up activities and changing fire regimes. to 80% of all marine pollution and are a • As sea levels rise due to climate change, major threat to the long-term health of many rocky shore species will be trapped nearshore marine systems14. > Sharks are threatened by between advancing waters and developed Catchment management plans must coastal areas. Unable to retreat, some will face many human activities, including cruel and take potential impacts on the marine and extinction. unsustainable fishing coastal environment into account. • Coastal development is increasing, with practices such as finning. Coastal development – more than 80% applications rising 32% since 2003.16 Photo: Bill Boyle of the Australian population lives within 50km of the coast15. As the population Fishing that targets particular species as scallop and fish trawling, cause major grows, subdivision and urbanisation of 12 can alter population structures, often habitat damage . coastal areas is also increasing, resulting in removing key high-level predators vital Outfalls for effluent discharge and the removal of important habitat. to the healthy functioning of a marine runoff from catchments are major It is vital legislated town boundaries are ecosystem. Some fishing practices, such polluters of Victoria’s coastal waters. brought in for coastal towns.

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 5 THE IMPORTANCE OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Port Jackson Sharks sleeping in a crevice – they are an important predator and forager in Victorian reef ecosystems. Photo: Mark Norman Marine parks and sanctuaries, critical for life in our oceans n the early 1990s the Australian International commitments and current global status of marine protected areas1 Government identified the need to create a series of nationally protected World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002, called for establishing a global network of I marine protected areas (MPAs) by 2012. areas covering the full range of marine ecosystems and habitats found in Evian Agreement signed by the G8 group of nations, 2003, called for the establishment of Australia. ecosystem networks of MPAs by 2012. Known as the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas, it The 5th World Parks Congress, 2003, called on the international community to increase MPA was the first real attempt to protect all networks of strictly protected areas to at least 20-30% of each marine habitat. Australian marine areas by representing Convention on Biological Diversity, 2004, agreed to the establishment and maintenance of MPAs major ecological regions and communities to contribute to a global network. of plants and animals on a national scale.2 Victoria’s current marine national parks fisheries around the world, and climate Highly protected, no-take areas also and sanctuaries owe much to this early change is likely to further hasten their have an important role to play, and should work, and were identified and established deterioration. be established in heavily fished areas (in 2002) along the same principles as the to protect our most highly threatened national reserve system. Marine protected areas can play a leading role in reversing this downturn by: fisheries.5 However, although the creation of Victoria’s current marine protected • Rebuilding fish stocks and There is now a significant body of areas was a good start, they need safeguarding against future collapses. evidence (see table 2, opposite page) to be expanded if they are to meet • Replenishing depleted fish pointing to the important role marine Australia’s national standards of populations by providing safe havens protected areas play in increasing fish “comprehensiveness, adequacy and within which fish can breed. stocks. 3 representativeness” . • Helping to rebuild fish populations Marine protected areas offer vital after catastrophic events. insurance for fisheries and must form Renewing our fish stocks • Creating sources of fish moving from the core of a comprehensive approach to Over-fishing and damaging fishing protected areas into waters where managing Victoria’s marine environment practices are behind the collapse of fishing is allowed. 4 in the face of climate change.

6 – Protecting our Seas & Shores Protecting our oceans Marine protected areas help protect marine stocks by: Helping aquatic ecosystems withstand the impacts of climate change by removing existing stressors on marine ecosystems. Protecting and improvingboth habitat and species diversity. Species diversity plays an important role in helping plants and animals adapt to changing conditions.28 Protecting rare species or populations, unique and fragile habitats, the general health of marine ecosystems as well as highly productive fisheries. Protecting habitats from damaging industries such as oil exploration, the aquariam trade, damaging fishing practices and aquaculture. Crays in a craypot at Port Campbell. Photo: Bill Boyle Creating opportunities for education, for sustainable management. research and tourism in marine systems. HOW MARINE PROTECTED AREAS LOOK AFTER • Marine protected areas promote Providing scientific reference sites and OUR FISHERIES development of biological benchmarks. 9,10 • They enhance production of communities. Helping to achieve sustainable fisheries and marine offspring that eventually restock • Protected areas allow adult and insuring against fish stock collapses. fishing grounds.6,7 juvenile fish to ‘spill over’ into Storing huge amounts of carbon, • They prevent habitat damage.8 neighbouring fishing grounds.11 particularly in coastal areas (saltmarshes, • They provide scientific data • They provide a refuge for vulnerable mangroves and seagrass beds all have for understanding ecological processes species.12 important potential to store carbon29).

TABLE 2: MARINE PROTECTED AREAS: GOOD FOR GLOBAL FISHERIES13 Marine Protected Area Increased Fish Spillover Numbers Medes Islands MPA, Spain14 Columbretes Islands Marine Reserve, Spain15 Côte Bleue MPA, France16 Cerbere-Banyuls and Carry-le-Rouet MPAs in France, and Medes, Cabrera, Tabarca, and Cabo de Palos MPAs in Spain17 Nabq Managed Resource Protected Area, Egypt18 Mombasa MPA, Kenya19 Malindi and Watamu Marine National Parks, Kenya20 Saldanha Bay, Langebaan Lagoon, South Africa21 , Philippines22 Wakatobi Marine National Park, Indonesia23 Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary; Hopkins Marine Life Refuge; Point Lobos State & Ecological Reserve; Big Greek Marine Ecological Reserve, USA24 Soufrie`re Marine Management Area, St Lucia25 Abrolhos National Marine Park, Brazil26 , Western Australia27

Adapted from Dudley et.al. 201030. Note: not all studies referred to looked at ‘spill-over’, which refers to the movement of fish out of a marine protected area and into surrounding waters. Pictured right, a recreational fisher with his catch, a Queen Morwong. Photo: Bill Boyle

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 7 VICTORIA’S UNIQUE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

The pristine waters of Waterloo Bay, a beach popular with visitors to Wilsons Promontory National Park. Photo: David Neilson Our coastlines are home to an amazing diversity of marine life hen compared to other similar merge with influences from , marine habitats around the the Tasman Sea, and strong wind and Wworld Victoria’s seas and shores wave exposure to carve out yet another stand out as unusually rich – 80% of the unique marine niche. marine life found in Victoria’s southern Physical geography and underwater waters occur nowhere else on earth. topography also influence the shape of One reason for this superabundance is marine systems. the fact Victorian waters lie at the meeting Shorelines along our east coast are point of the Southern and Pacific oceans, rich in sandflat communities, while to creating an invisible outer boundary the west spectacular cliffs and beyond which many marine creatures underwater pinnacles are hallmarks of the cannot pass. region. Ocean currents, water temperatures Scattered along the entire length and exposure all play a role in shaping the One of Victoria’s more striking fish species, an Old Wife. Photo: John Gaskell, Beneath Our Bay of Victoria’s coast are extensive rocky types of plants and animals that can be headlands such as the much-loved found in any one particular region. central coastline, which stretches from Wilsons Promontory, and there are also For example, marine life found in the Cape Otway to Cape Liptrap, is strongly offshore islands including Deen Maar waters west of Cape Otway is influenced influenced by the waters of Bass Strait and (). by the cold Southern Ocean, as well as the Southern Ocean. Closer to shore our bays and estuaries extreme wind and wave exposure. And in Victoria’s far east, the warmer are home to wetlands of international Life in the seas along Victoria’s waters of the East Australian Current significance, and are filled with marine life.

8 – Protecting our Seas & Shores Orbost Melbourne Lakes Entrance

Geelong TASMAN SEA Portland Warrnambool Anglesea Seaspray

San Remo Port Campbell Apollo Foster Bay Marine National Parks SOUTHERN OCEAN BASS STRAIT Marine Sanctuaries

In 2002 the Victorian Government recognised the importance of marine conservation by creating 13 highly protected marine national parks and 11 marine sanctuaries, covering 5.3% of our coastal waters. Key features of Victoria’s marine world Dunes and coastal vegetation The windswept dunes of Victoria’s coast and its scrubby, salt-affected grasses, succulents, scrub sedges and shrubs provide habitat for birds, small mammals and reptiles, many of high conservation significance. Dunes are an important natural sea defence in low-lying areas and protect many Victorian estuaries and wetlands from storm surge flooding. Coastal vegetation also stabilises coastal dunes and soils, providing erosion protection, and has important aesthetic, recreational and historical values1. Estuaries and coastal wetlands Estuaries are influenced by both marine Senator Wrasse. Photo: John Gaskell, Beneath Our Bay and riverine environments. They contain Seaweeds such as Neptune’s Necklace with saltmarsh vegetation growing inshore a wide variety of sheltered habitats, and the large, fleshy Bull Kelp provide of the mangroves. including intertidal and subtidal reefs, molluscs, snails, sea squirts, sea stars, Coastal saltmarshes and mangroves (Ruppia channels, seagrass, Estuary Grass ), crabs and shrimps with food and a refuge provide important feeding, breeding and mangroves and saltmarshes. from exposure at low . resting habitat for many shorebird species, They are dominated by intertidal Intertidal reefs are also important such as the endangered Orange-bellied sandflats and mudflats, and subtidal feeding grounds for shorebirds such as Parrot, which depends on saltmarshes for sediment beds associated with the Pacific Gull and Sooty Oystercatcher winter food. 4 diverse and productive invertebrate at low tide, and fish at high tide . The They also form a barrier against communities. conservation of these areas depends on flooding, currents, waves and storms, Estuary mud and sandflats are preventing habitat destruction, illegal trap and stabilise coastal sediments, and important feeding grounds for local and harvesting, pollution, and physical protect against coastal erosion. migratory shorebirds, and nurseries disturbance. for ecologically, recreationally and These ‘ecological services’ will become commercially important fish species such Mangroves and saltmarsh increasingly important as climate change as Australian Salmon, King George Whiting contributes to sea level rise and increasing 5 2 Coastal saltmarsh plants and mangroves storm frequency and intensity . and Bream . co-exist on the intertidal sand and Intertidal reefs mudflats of protected bays and estuaries, continued page 13 In Victoria, intertidal reefs are usually found around headlands and are TEEMING WITH LIFE: Up to 800 alternately covered by water and exposed species have been recorded in a 10 square by the tide. The plants and animals found metre area on the sandy seafloor from in intertidal reefs are specialists, adapted Lake Tyers to Cape Conran. One square to extreme environmental conditions metre of sand from the subtidal area including storm waves, dehydration, off Ninety Mile Beach can contain 6000 extreme changes, very salty individuals. conditions, and predation3.

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 9 OUR UNDERWATER WORLD

Conceptual profile of key Victorian marine and coastal habitats. Illustration: Rhyll Plant and Jess McGeachin

10 – Protecting our Seas & Shores Conceptual profile of key Victorian marine and coastal habitats. Illustration: Rhyll Plant and Jess McGeachin

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 11 VICTORIA’S UNIQUE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

The largest sea star in southern Australia, the Eleven-armed Sea Star grows up to 25 centimetres across. Photo: Dave Bryant, SEAPICS

12 – Protecting our Seas & Shores ... from page 9

Seagrass meadows A healthy seagrass meadow of dense, green growth, crawling with animals and fish swimming above is an incredible sight. Seagrasses are flowering plants that grow underwater in coastal marine and estuarine environments, flourishing in the shallow, sunlit waters of coastal bays and inlets. Seagrass communities are very important in maintaining ecological processes, including primary productivity, nutrient cycling, food web pathways and A Pipefish camouflaged against a backdrop of green carpet seaweed at Clifton Springs. Pipefish provision of habitat6. are a protected species. Photo: John Gaskell, Beneath Our Bay They produce gases and nutrients that OUR UNDERWATER WORLD Like flowering plants on land they are an essential part of the marine food • Mushroom Reef, at Flinders, and produce flowers and seeds, but web, hold sediments together and provide Honeysuckle Reef, near Point Leo, these are small and difficult to see homes for adult and young fish, crabs, support the most diverse intertidal in many species. , sea snails and octopuses. reef communities in Victoria. • Seagrass beds are primary They are also important nurseries • Seagrasses have land-based habitat for Pipefish, seahorses and for many ecologically, commercially and ancestors and only returned to the seadragons, all of high conservation recreationally important fish species, sea in recent evolutionary history. significance. including King George Whiting, Southern Sea Garfish and Bream7,8,9. There have been dramatic declines in seagrass habitat in recent decades, both globally and Coastal islands within Victoria10. Coastal islands incorporate many marine, intertidal and coastal habitats, but are Sandflats distinctly important for several reasons. Ninety Mile Beach, to the west of Lakes They are often home to plant and Entrance, is Victoria’s most extensive animal communities found nowhere stretch of sandy seafloor habitat, and else on the planet, and their relative home to spider crabs, sea anemones, sand isolation helps conserve more pristine skaters and stingrays. habitats than occur elsewhere in the world. One square metre of sand can yield several thousand organisms and hundreds Protected coastal islands can potentially of species. Ornate Cowfish.Photo: John Gaskell, Beneath Our Bay be used as ‘arks’ to conserve species threatened in their natural range. Coastal Many transient animals such as fish They are particularly important to islands in Victoria are home to breeding and stingrays pass over sandy plains, conservation values because of their high colonies of fur seal and seabirds, including while more permanent residents, such species diversity and the large number of Australasian Gannets, Little Penguins as flounders and crabs, use their sandy endemic (confined to a particular location and the Short-tailed Shearwater14. Key coloured bodies as camouflage to blend or area) species12,13. examples in Victoria are Deen Maar (Lady into the soft sea floor. Victoria’s reefs are covered with Julia Percy Island) and . Sandflats play an important role in delicate lacework bryozoans, soft, nutrient cycling and control in the marine branching corals, and long, thin sea whips. Open water environment, a delicate system that could Large and small sponges in different Away from the shoreline, Victoria’s be permanently damaged by decreasing shapes and colours are abundant, and deeper, open waters support plankton, light levels, for instance through dredging, create a stunning visual landscape sea jellies, squid, large mammals including or by overloading the amount of nitrogen composed of numerous species, many of Fur Seals, Bottle-nosed Dolphins and 11 put into bays . which resemble flowers, plants and fruits Southern Right Whales, seabirds such as including animals such as sea lilies, sea gannets, petrels and Little Penguins, and Subtidal reefs cucumbers, and sea tulips. fish including pilchards, anchovies, Silver Further out to sea, reefs support gardens Swaying to the waves and currents Trevally, Barracoota and Jack Mackerel. of sponges and carpets of colourful of the Southern Ocean, seaweed forests The quality of open ocean waters has a anemones, surrounded by tall kelp forests grow from the sea floor towards the sunlit direct influence on the health of nearshore swaying back and forth in the currents. surface of the sea, some forming dense waters and other marine habitats. Some They can take the form of banks of canopies at the surface. Kelp forests are marine national parks along Victoria’s coast stones or cobbles, large underwater important marine habitats and provide therefore extend to the state limit of three boulders, cascading shelves of rock, or as shelter for large populations of fish, nautical miles (5.5km) and protect open canyons, caves and arches carved out of crustaceans, sea snails, sea stars and ocean waters, including parts of the cold, the seafloor. sea urchins. deep waters of Bass Strait.

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 13 MARINE CONSERVATION PRIORITIES

10. Flinders-Honeysuckle-Merricks • 11. Cape Schanck •

4. Pt Lillias-Pt Wilson • 5. Pt Wilson-Kirk Pt • 6. Wedge Pt •

8. Clifton Springs •

• 2. Deen Maar (Lady Julia Percy Island) 9. Pt Nepean • • 1. Bridgewater Bay 11. • 12. Summerland Peninsula and • 7. Crawfish Rock • 13. North Arm of Bay • 3. Cape Otway • 14. Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park • Priority areas identified for marine protection in Victoria any areas along Victoria’s coastline are in desperate need Mof protection yet remain outside the state’s 13 marine national parks and 11 marine sanctuaries. That’s why the Victorian National Parks Association has identified 20 marine conservation priority areas we believe should be protected as part of the state’s marine reserve system. In identifying these areas we first determined the degree of existing threats they face, we then established their conservation values based on ecosystem resilience, ecosystem processes and their Short-tailed nudibranches are commonly vulnerability to particular threats. encountered on Victorian reefs. Nudibranch means ‘naked lungs’, because the lungs of The final step was to rate the these creatures are found on the outside of conservation value of each area based their bodies. Photo: Bill Boyle, courtesy DSE on the distribution of important habitats they contain, their degree of ecosystem 2. Deen Maar (Lady Julia Percy Island) is integrity, rarity and diversity. home to an Australian Fur Seal breeding colony, is a rookery for the common diving 1. Bridgewater Bay contains sediment petrel, and provides breeding habitat for beds and seagrass that are important the White-bellied Sea-eagle and Fairy habitats for many species of fish, Prion. The island is also a known Great Pot-bellied seahorses are a common sight in crustaceans (including the threatened White Shark feeding area. Reef areas here Port Phillip Bay. Photo: Dave Bryant, SEAPICS Ghost Shrimp) and other marine animals. support important kelp habitat.

14 – Protecting our Seas & Shores 19. Mallacoota Inlet •

16. Ninety Mile Beach • 20. Gabo Island • • 18. Bemm Reef • 15. • 17. Gippsland Lakes

14. Bunurong Marine and Coastal Park contains significant Amphibolis seagrass habitat and is home to the threatened sea cucumber Pentocnus bursatus. The crevice habitats here are unique in Victoria. 15. Anderson Inlet contains important sandflat and saltmarsh habitat. It is also important as a feeding, breeding and resting place for birds. Enclosed lagoon A huge variety of colourful seastars, like the habitats and Estuary Grass (Ruppia) here Eight-armed Cushion Sea Stars pictured here, are also of high conservation value. 3. Cape Otway has an extensive and are found in Victoria’s marine environment. has the most highly complex reef system extending into 16. Ninety Mile Beach Photo: Matt Krumins biologically diverse sediment beds in the ocean and offering highly varied and the world, and important reef areas. It unique physical habitat for a diverse range must be extended to encompass the full is also a shorebird breeding habitat. The of species. extent of seagrass habitat, and protect the dolphin refuge at Ticonderoga Bay. Point boundaries of the existing marine national 4. The coast from Point Lillias to Point Nepean also has deep reef and canyon park must be expanded to encompass Wilson contains seagrass and saltmarsh habitats that support highly diverse these areas. habitat of high conservation value. gardens. 17. The Gippsland Lakes, an area of high Saltmarshes support plants that can 10. The Flinders-Honeysuckle-Merricks wetland bird diversity, has Ramsar listed tolerate high soil salinity, high temperatures coast has significant reef areas that wetlands of international significance and and occasional inundation by salt water, support colonies of iconic sea-dragons contains highly significant coastal and and are very important as food for aquatic and species-rich Amphibolis seagrass dune habitats. Seagrasses and Ruppia/ species and for recycling nutrients. The area meadows. This area has rare sea estuarine grass, in addition to important is also home to the critically endangered cucumbers present. coastal grasses and heath, are all found Orange-bellied Parrot. 11. Cape Schanck’s and Phillip Island’s here. The lakes are also an important 5. The area from Point Wilson to Kirk deep reefs, pinnacles and canyons feeding, breeding and resting area for Point contains seagrass habitat. Seagrass support incredibly diverse communities of birds. strengthens the resilience of our bays. sedentary invertebrates such as sponges, 18. The Bemm Reef area experiences The area is currently unprotected and is at sea tulips and lace corals. of sea water, and as a result is risk of degradation or destruction. 12. Summerland Peninsula and Seal Rocks an area of extremely high marine diversity 6. Wedge Point is an ideal sheltered are home to a seal breeding colony and and productivity. It is home to significant environment for a unique drift include an important Great White Shark filter-feeding communities and supports a community. feeding area. They also have a penguin great diversity of seaweeds. 7. Crawfish Rock is a pinnacle reef colony and mutton-bird rookery. 19. Mallacoota Inlet is important as a with unique seaweed and invertebrate Reef areas here are highly productive feeding and roosting area for birds. The communities. There is a high diversity of and support important kelp habitat. Kelp area has important sandflat and saltmarsh Ruppia sponges and hydroids. A listed hydroid forests offer shelter, habitat and food to habitat as well as and lagoon species is only found on this rock. Covering fish, sea snails, lace corals, sponges, crabs habitats, and is of high conservation value. a small area, this community is vulnerable and many other species. 20. Gabo Island is home to a penguin to environmental changes in Western Port. 13. The North Arm of Western Port Bay colony and seabird rookery. It supports 8. The sheltered marine environment off contains significant and unique channel a highly diverse invertebrate community Clifton Springs contains flowering seagrass habitats, and supports extensive seagrass and a high diversity of fish species, and is beds that support very high marine beds, mangrove and saltmarsh habitats. important for threatened species such as productivity. It also contains the Barrellier Island bird the White-bellied Sea-eagle, Humpback Whale and the Southern Right Whale. 9. Point Nepean contains significant roost. The boundaries of the existing Amphibolis seagrass habitat and is a , Yaringa and Note: the areas shown are not the only Victorian marine areas with high conservation values. Not dolphin refuge. The current boundary of marine national parks must be extended to enough information is currently available for many Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park protect these critically important habitats. other areas.

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 15 ASSESSING VICTORIA’S MARINE PARKS AND SANCTUARIES Mapping the need for change in Victoria’s marine parks system s part of the Victorian National Parks Association’s 2010 Nature AConservation Review we looked at the state’s marine parks system to evaluate whether or not it successfully protects the ecosystems, habitats and marine life found in our seas and along our shores. To do this we assessed Victoria’s current marine national parks and sanctuaries against the objectives set out in Australia’s National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas, which makes it clear that any marine protected system must be “comprehensive, adequate and representative”. The “CAR” criteria were also used by Victoria’s Environment Conservation Council in 2000 when it was shaping our current marine parks system. The result is a detailed report card on the weaknesses of our current marine A “Moonlighter” in a shallow reef crevice at Indented Head in Port Phillip Bay. Beneath Our Bay parks and sanctuaries that we hope will Photo: John Gaskell, help create a more resilient system, better Merri Marine Sanctuary is inadequate to not include its full range of ecosystems. prepared to cope with future threats. protect subtidal reef life. It is critical that Marine protected areas do not cover the shoreward boundary of Discovery Bay habitats such as seagrass and shallow Marine National Park and the southern reef at Flinders or eastern Phillip Island. DISCOVERY BAY boundary of the Merri Marine Sanctuary Deeper and offshore marine communities TO THE OTWAYS be extended. are not well represented and deep reefs are not included in any existing marine While the marine Cape Bridgewater, Lawrence Rocks, protected areas in the region. protected areas Portland Bay, Deen Marr, Middle Island, between Discovery Bay Logans Beach, , Bay of The existing marine protected areas fail and the Otways were Islands, Port Campbell, Moonlight Head to meet their conservation objectives in a found to be representative of the region, and Cape Otway were identified as priority number of areas. Marengo Reefs Marine the lack of coverage of shallow reef in conservation areas and should be given Sanctuary does not fully encompass Discovery Bay Marine National Park and proper marine protected area status. subtidal habitat and it is critical that the seagrass throughout the region means boundaries be extended to natural that the marine protected areas system is reef-sand boundaries. not comprehensive. THE SURF COAST The Discovery Bay Marine National TO VENUS BAY Park does not properly encompass The marine protected intertidal and deep reef habitats, or areas between Victoria’s shore bird habitats that adjoin dune and Surf Coast and Venus lake systems. The seaward boundary of Bay were found to Port Phillip Yaringa MNP Heads MNP be representative of the region, but do Barwon Bluff MS

Discovery French Is Portland Bay Pt Addis MNP Bay Pt Danger MNP MS MNP Merri MS

Cape Lawrence Rocks Dean Marr Logans Beach Eagle Rock MS Bridgewater Phillip Island The Arches MS Otway National Park Twelve Apostles MNP

Dinosaur Cove Marengo MS Discovery Bay to the Otways Surf Coast to Venus Bay

16 – Protecting our Seas & Shores The north-eastern boundary of Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary must be extended to include continuous reef that currently lies outside the boundaries of the sanctuary. It is also necessary to extend the Coastal Park Nooramunga Coastal Park boundaries of Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary to include all Bull Kelp habitat and to provide a buffer for habitat protection. Shallow Corner Inlet MNP The effectiveness of the Port Phillip Inlet Heads Marine National Park is seriously compromised because only half of the seagrass bed at Pt Nepean is protected. The Pt Lonsdale and Portsea Hole components of this marine national park Wilsons Promontory do not adequately encompass canyon Wilsons Promontory MP habitats and communities. The northern boundary of Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park must be extended to encompass all seagrass habitat in Nepean Bay. Alternatively, Bunurong Marine National Park could be extended eastward Wilsons Promontory MR into seagrass habitat. Wilsons Promontory MNP Priority conservation areas in this region include Port Phillip Heads, Flinders, Honeysuckle and Merricks, Cape Schanck and Phillip Island deep reefs and pinnacles, and the Bunurong Marine National Park. depth reef within the Ninety in the Ninety Mile Beach Marine National It is recommended that Summerlands Mile Beach Marine National Park. Park if it is to meet its stated objectives. Peninsula, Flinders seagrass beds and Phillip Island pinnacles are all afforded Subtidal reef at Cape Howe Marine Other gaps in this region include proper marine protected area status, National Park extends into heavily fished Bull Kelp habitat, areas containing rare that intermediate depth reef, deep reef New South Wales waters, making it seaweeds and with unique community and offshore/deeper sediment habitats vulnerable to negative impacts from structure such as Bemm Reef, and be included in regional marine protected over the border. The Cape Howe Marine probable unique communities in the New areas. National Park also excludes an area Zealand Star Bank. near Iron Prince that was included in Areas of high conservation priority Note: See page 20 for more detailed the Environment Conservation Council’s information about Port Phillip Bay in this region include Bemm Reef, Gabo recommendations for its establishment. Island, Rame Head, Skerries, Wingam Inlet, Offshore sediment, subtidal reef, Bull Kelp flats at East Hicks, and the New WILSONS PROM intermediate reef and deep reef habitats Zealand Star Bank. These areas must be TO MALLACOOTA are not adequately represented in these protected through the establishment of marine protected areas. Intermediate new marine protected areas. The marine protected depth reef along Ninety Mile Beach must areas between Wilsons be included Gabo Is Promontory and Cape Conran Cape Mallacoota also fail to Howe properly protect the natural values they MNP Beware Reef MS The Skerries were established to conserve. They do Point Hicks MNP not adequately represent the biological diversity of the region because they do Gippsland Lakes Yaringa MNP not include offshore substrata (one of the layers of the ocean bed) around MAPS LEGEND Wilsons Promontory or intermediate EEC Identified Area Other Special Habitat Marine National Park (MNP) Ninety Mile Beach MNP Seal Colony Marine Park Anderson Inlet Seabird Colony Marine Reserve

Bunurong Marine and Coastal Rare/threatened Invertebrates Corner Reserve MNP Inlet Marine Sanctuary (MS)

Cape Liptrap Wilsons Promontory to Mallacoota Wilsons Promontory MNP

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 17 ASSESSING VICTORIA’S MARINE PARKS AND SANCTUARIES

White Mangroves in Western Port Bay. Photo: Bill Boyle Our bays, inlets and estuaries, treasures worth protecting ictoria’s coastline contains close to 123 bays, inlets and estuaries, which Vrange in size from less than one square kilometre through to our largest, Port Phillip Bay, which covers 1950 square kilometres. Nooramunga Coastal Park Corner Inlet After Port Phillip Bay our second largest Coastal Park body of marine water is Western Port, which is 680 square kilometres, followed by Corner Inlet/ Nooramunga (510 square kilometres) and the Gippsland Lakes (400 square kilometres). Corner Inlet MNP Shallow When looking at the ability of Victoria’s Inlet marine park system to protect our bays, inlets and estuaries we focused on Port Phillip Bay, Western Port, Corner Inlet, the Gippsland Lakes and Mallacoota Inlet. CORNER INLET Rich in biodiversity Corner Inlet and Nooramunga are to the west along Victoria’s estuaries, inlets and bays are marine barrier island inlets with Bennison Bank would important for many reasons, including extensive tidal mudflats, seagrass beds greatly increase supporting a rich diversity of invertebrate and the southern-most occurrence of protection of seagrass and fish species, and providing breeding White Mangrove in the world. beds at Corner Photo courtesy Parks Victoria Parks courtesy Photo and nursery areas for several commercial Corner Inlet1 Marine National Park Inlet. This would also protect patches Heterozostera and recreational fish stocks. protects important Posidonia seagrass, of Eelgrass ( ), and the but the park’s northern border runs threatened sea cucumber Trochodota They vary widely depending on shepherdi. topography and hydrology, and the directly through the seagrass meadow. marine life of these waters can change It does not include the entire patch Formal documentation of the dramatically according to the biophysical of seagrass, which is therefore highly values to be protected and the characteristics of individual bays and vulnerable to border effects. Mangrove corresponding management responses inlets. In just one of Victoria’s bays more habitat is not present within the current and permitted activities in Corner Inlet than a hundred different fish species have boundaries of the marine national park, and Nooramunga marine and coastal been recorded. and channel habitats and soft sediments parks is required. are also not adequately protected. Islands within our bays support Their management also needs to be important breeding bird and seal colonies, Extension of the Corner Inlet Marine better integrated with the management and intertidal flats and shorelines serve as National Park northwards and further plans of adjacent marine national parks. feeding grounds and sheltered roost sites for migratory and resident wading birds and nationally important for Australian stream flows and drought. and waterfowl. waterfowl. The VNPA’s 2010 Nature Conservation Many of our wetlands are of However, many Victorian estuaries Review found that the greatest international significance, are vital to are coming under increasing pressure weaknesses in Victoria’s marine parks the survival of migratory bird species, from urbanisation, farming, modified system are concentrated in bays and inlets.

18 – Protecting our Seas & Shores MALLACOOTA INLET Mallacoota Inlet is a captivating holiday destination along Victoria’s wilderness coast and boasts shimmering lakes, rivers, pristine forests and turquoise seas lapping at quiet beaches. The area has important sandflat and saltmarsh habitat as well as Estuary Grass and lagoon habitats, and is of extremely high conservation value. The diversity of habitat around Mallacoota Inlet makes it an important feeding and roosting area for more than 300 recorded bird species, including Mallacoota resident populations of Cormorants, Egrets and Sea-Eagles, plus migratory waders such as Curlews, Bar-tailed Mallacoota Inlet Godwits, Red Knots and tiny Red-necked Tullaberga Stints. Island Some of these are listed in the Japan- Australia Migratory Birds Agreement, Bastion Point which requires measures to preserve and enhance the environment of migratory birds. Little and Fairy terns form breeding colonies at the Inlet, and the area also attracts Crested and Caspian MAPS LEGEND terns, Pied Oystercatchers, Red-capped Plovers, the Sooty Oystercatcher and EEC Identified Area Ramsar Area Other Special Habitat the Eastern Reef Egret. There are Marine National Park Shorebird Feeding / Roosting Habitat currently no marine protected areas at Marine Park Rare/threatened Invertebrates Other Shorebird Habitat Mallacoota. Marine and Coastal Some of the major habitats of Reserve Victoria’s minor inlets are encompassed Establishing a marine protected area Mallacoota Inlet has been in the Marine and Coastal at Mallacoota Inlet would be a step identified as an area of extremely Park, but intertidal and subtidal seagrass towards attaining a comprehensive high conservation value and must be and Estuary Grass habitats are not and representative system of marine properly protected as a marine national properly protected. protected areas in Victoria. park or marine sanctuary.

GIPPSLAND LAKES

The Gippsland Lakes, Victoria’s largest estuary, is a series of Gippsland Lakes Lakes Entrance interconnected lagoons that drain several catchments. With a vast Lake Wellington array of waterways to explore, and made up of three magnificent flickr philliecasablanca, Photo: lakes stretching more than 400 square kilometres, these lakes While there are currently no marine are of national and international protected areas in the Gippsland Lakes significance. region, the Ramsar status protects ecosystems to a depth of 6 metres. They contain highly significant However, current Ramsar protected coastal and dune habitats, extensive areas do not fully encompass Eelgrass Ramsar listed wetlands, and are host breeding an important feeding, breeding and Estuary Grass habitats. and resting area for birds. Jack Smith colonies of the vulnerable The VNPA has identified this as a The lakes attract the largest Lake Fairy Tern and Little Tern. A priority area for its conservation value, of migratory permanent artificial entrance to and it needs extended marine waders in and the estuary was created in 1889. protected area status.

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 19 ASSESSING VICTORIA’S MARINE PARKS AND SANCTUARIES

Melbourne PORT PHILLIP BAY Jawbone MS

Australia’s busiest port and one of Victoria’s most loved recreational destinations, Port Phillip Bay is a huge Pt Cooke MS expanse of water, covering 1950 square Ricketts Pt MS kilometres and surrounded by Werribee Estuary Edithvale- 250 kilometres of shoreline. Seaford Wetlands Although there have been many advances in cleaning up its waters over the years, there remain serious flaws in Clifton Springs Port Phillip Bay the management of its marine values. Our review found that the marine protected areas in Port Phillip Bay do not protect important marine Bellarine Peninsula drift weed mats or Pyura and sponge gardens, and that channel habitats are not included in any of its marine protected areas. Port Phillip Heads MNP The Point Cooke Marine Sanctuary was created to protect reef areas Barwon Bluff MS unique to this part of the bay, Pt Danger MS but because the area has been so transformed by introduced marine Seagrass and mudflat habitats are pests it is questionable whether the poorly represented within Jawbone sanctuary is truly representative of Marine Sanctuary and the offshore negative “boundary effects”. biodiversity in this area. boundary is too close to shore to Clifton Springs, Capel Sound, West Important seagrass beds are not protect subtidal habitats. Channels, Symmonds Channel, Pinnacle encompassed in Point Cooke Marine This is also the case at Ricketts Point, Channel and the Werribee Estuary Sanctuary, and it is important that the where the effectiveness of the marine have all been identified as priority sanctuary’s boundaries be extended to sanctuary is undermined by the fact conservation areas within Port Phillip include the northern Ramsar-listed area that its offshore boundary is too close Bay, and must be afforded proper along the shore to Skeleton Creek. to the reef’s edge, resulting in marine protected area status.

Yaringa MNP WESTERN PORT French Is MNP Western Port covers 680 square An important high-tide bird kilometres, has two entrances and roost at Barralier Rock is also contains several large islands. It is a not adequately protected.

French Island mapu, flickr Photo: large tidal bay with extensive mudflats Churchill Island Marine and seagrass beds in the north and National Park south-east. does not Marine protected areas in Western include Churchill Is MNP Port do not adequately protect the saltmarsh Phillip Island marine natural values they were and Mushroom Bass River Delta established to conserve. Amphibolis Reef MS None of the three Western Port seagrass marine protected areas look after habitats. deeper channel habitat, and seagrass The boundary of French Island Anderson Inlet and Estuary Grass habitats are also not Marine National Park must be extended properly covered. westward to include Crawfish Rock, It is unknown whether any of the Barrellier Island and channel habitat areas marine protected areas adequately or else a new marine national park and must be protect seapens and fossil shells found must be created to ensure that the CAR highly protected as Bunurong MNP in the channel habitats of Western Port, criteria are met. marine protected areas. because these marine communities The North Arm of Western Port, It is also essential that the sediment have never been mapped. Crawfish Rock, San Remo, the Bass channel communities of seapens The shoreward boundary of the River Delta, Churchill Island Marine Virgularia mirabilis and the ‘fossil’ shell French Island Marine National Park cuts National Park, the Rhyll mud banks species of Neotrigonia margaritacea, through the middle of mangrove habitat and observation point have all been Anadara tripezia and Magellania and excludes saltmarsh habitat entirely. identified as priority conservation flavescens be mapped.

20 – Protecting our Seas & Shores What is required to protect Victoria’s marine treasures? hen Victoria declared its marine parks system in 2002, the state FIVE-POINT ACTION PLAN FOR MARINE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION became a global leader in the 1. A commitment to protect an additional W 20% of Victoria’s marine and coastal areas field. The move established 13 marine national parks and 11 marine sanctuaries, through the creation of new marine national and we were the envy of the marine parks by 2012. conservation world. 2. Commit to a new and independent inquiry However, the rest of the country and by the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) or similar into marine and the world have since caught up, and coastal biodiversity and the establishment of Australia has agreed to protecting new marine parks to be completed by 2012. 20-30% of its marine coastal habitats by 3. Complete a Victorian Marine Plan by 2012 Juvenile Scalyfin at Point Lonsdale. Photo: John Gaskell, Beneath Our Bay 2012. With just 5.3% of Victoria in marine that includes: national parks or sanctuaries, we are no longer the world leader. • Tighter planning regulations to protect marine and coastal habitats. • A comprehensive plan to deal with coastal pests and other threats. Our marine protected areas exist within a complex policy and regulatory • Ensuring that bay and estuary water quality levels are improved and monitored. framework. There are a range of global • Building climate change resilience in marine and coastal communities by improving conventions and commitments to protect levels of resources for management. the marine environment, and 15 pieces 4. Develop an ecosystem-based marine planning framework and new marine protection of state and federal legislation with legislation that better manages and protects the marine environment, by 2014. more than a dozen different strategies 5. Expand the role of the Victorian Coastal Council and boards to become responsible for and plans governing and guiding our use management of marine and coastal areas. of the marine environment. Many are uncoordinated and some are in conflict with each other. system is a great starting point, there marine protected areas, fish habitats and needs to be further underwater mapping fishing grounds”.1 This plan also includes The Victorian Coastal Strategy 2008 and detailed planning to determine exact further mapping and habitat assessment. is the major policy governing coastal boundaries for new marine parks. management. With a long-term vision for In general terms the plan is a positive our coasts, it aims to: We believe that the independent step, but needs to ensure that protected Victorian Environmental Assessment areas remain at its core. They are, after • Provide a framework for Council (VEAC) is best suited to this task, all, the most efficient and effective way the protection of significant as was its predecessor the Environmental to conserve and look after our natural environmental and cultural values. Conservation Council when it helped environment. • Provide for integrated planning and establish the existing parks in 2000. The government also needs to establish clear direction for the future. In releasing its 2009 land and a new marine planning framework and • Ensure the sustainable use of natural biodiversity white paper, Securing draw up legislation based on the need coastal resources. Our Future, the Victorian Government to conserve marine ecosystems, rather • Ensure that development on the coast committed itself to reforming key pieces than just treating them as commodities, is located within existing modified of legislation, including the Coastal the way much of our existing marine and resilient environments where the Management Act 1995 and the Flora and legislation does. demand for development is evident Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. This would be akin to the land use and the impact can be managed. These reforms include a move to planning zones, with some areas for However, the implementation of this abolish the Victorian Coastal Council conservation and some for resources use strategy has often lacked co-ordination and merge current coastal boards with and community use. This would ensure and accountability, and it is limited to catchment management authorities. There that the unique features of our marine visions of planning, management and use. is a clear need to ensure that any change environments are managed in sustainable The marine environment is both gives greater status and recognition to ways. unique and complex and there are still our marine and coastal environments, Building on the significant scientific significant gaps in our knowledge of the and that they are not subsumed by the assessment undertaken as part of our undersea world. A second imperative, many pressing issues facing the terrestrial 2010 Nature Conservation Review, the climate change, now looms, making the environment. VNPA has developed a five point action task of creating a resilient and robust The Victorian Government also plan designed to protect Victoria’s marine marine parks system one of international committed to developing a Victorian environment. importance. Marine Plan by 2014, which in principle We are calling on the State Government While the Victorian National Parks would adopt an “ecosystem-based and all political parties to support the Association’s work on marine conservation management framework” and identify plan and provide the resources needed to priorities and gaps in the existing reserve “priority areas including natural assets and implement it.

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 21 MARINE INFORMATION KNOWLEDGE BASE Mallacoota Melbourne Marlo Lakes Entrance Portland Geelong Sale Warrnambool Torquay Sorrento San Remo Lorne Port Albert Habitat mapping sites Cape Bridgewater Port Campbell Ierodiaconou 2007 Roob et al. 1998 - Seagrass Ball and Blake 2007 Blake et al. 2000 - Seagrass Walkerville Holmes et al. 2007

he first systematic investigation of and features of the marine environment. “data collection programs and levels of TVictorian deep reef habitats was While the level of information is scientific understanding are inadequate carried out in 1995. This study took place improving all the time, there are still for comprehensive environmental at selected points along the coast to significant gaps in our knowledge that assessments”. provide information for the selection of marine protected areas by both the Land need to be filled (see above for a diagram The report also recommended further Conservation Council and the Environment of areas covered). long-term monitoring and habitat mapping Conservation Council. The 2008 Victorian State of the studies. The VNPA Nature Conservation Since then more than a dozen separate Environment Report noted that for Review used all these available studies to studies have mapped different habitats several coastal and marine issues, formulate its priorities and gaps.1

END NOTES Climate change turns up the heat on 5 Edgar, G.J, N.S. Barrett, R.D. Stuart-Smith, (2009); op cid. in marine reserves and adjacent exploited areas of central California, our fragile marine world 6 Pérez-Ruzafa, A., E. Martín, C. Marcos, J.M. Zamarro, B. Stobart, M. Ecological Applications 10: 855–870. 1 Engel A, I. Zondervan, K. Aerts, L. Beaufort, A. Benthien, L. Chou, Harmelin-Vivien, S. Polti, S. Planes, J.A. García- Charton and M. González- 25 Roberts, C. M., J. A. Bohnsack, F. Gell, J. P. Hawkins and R. Goodridge B. Delille, J.P.Gattuso, J. Harlay, C. Heeman, L. Hoffman, S. Jacquet, J. Wangüemert (2008); Modelling spatial and temporal scales for spill-over (2001); Effects of Marine Reserves on Adjacent Fisheries, Science 294: Nejstgaard, M.D. Pizay, E. Rochelle-Newall, U. Schneider, A. Terbrueggen and biomass exportation from MPAs and their potential for fisheries 1920 – 1923. and U. Riebesell, (2005); Testing the direct effect of CO2 concentration enhancement, Journal for Nature Conservation, 16: 4, 234-255. 26 Francini-Filho, R. B. and R. Leão de Moura (2008); Dynamics of fish on a bloom of the coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi in mesocosm 7 Halpern, B. S. (2003); The impact of marine reserves: do reserves assemblages on coral reefs subjected to different management regimes experiments. Limnology and 50:493-507. work and does reserve size matter?.Ecological Applications, 13: 1; in the Abrolhos Bank, eastern Brazil; Aquatic Conservation in Marine 2 Hinga KR, (2002); Effects of pH on coastal marine phytoplankton. 117-137. and Freshwater Ecosystems 18: 1166–1179. Marine Ecology Progress Series 238:281-300. 8 Roberts, C. M. and J. P. Hawkins (2000); Fully protected marine 27 Babcock, R. C., J. C. Phillips, M. Lourey and G. Clapin (2007); In- reserves: a guide 3 Riebesell U, I. Zondervan, B. Rost, P.D Tortell, R.E. Zeebe and F.M.M , WWF Endangered Seas Campaign, 1250 24th Street, creased density, biomass and egg production in an unfished population Morel, (2000); Reduced calcification of marine plankton in response to NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA and Environment Department, of Western Rock Lobster (Panulirus cygnus) at Rottnest Island, Western increased atmospheric CO2. Nature. 407:364-367. University of York, York,YO10 5DD, UK. Australia, Marine and Freshwater Research 58: 286-292. op cid 4 Orr J.C, V.J. Fabry, O. Aumont, L. Bopp, S.C. Doney, R.A. Feely, A. 9 Castilla, J. C. and L. R. Duran (1985); Human exclusion from the rocky 28 Edgar, G.J, N.S. Barrett, R.D. Stuart-Smith, (2009); . Gnanadesikan, N. Gruber, A. Ishida, F. Joos, R.M. Key, K. Lindsay, E. intertidal zone of central Chile: the effects on Concholepas concholepas 29 Dudley, N., S. Stolton, A. Belokurov, L. Krueger, N. Lopoukhine, K. Maier-Reimer, R. Matear, P. Monfray, A. Mouchet, R.G. Najjar, G.K. Plat- (Gastropoda). Oikos 45: 391-399. MacKinnon, T. Sandwith and N. Sekhran [editors] (2010); op cid. tner, K.B. Rodgers, C.L. Sabine, J.L. Sarmiento, R. Schlitzer, R.D. Slater, I.F. 10 Edgar, G.J, N.S Barrett, R.D Stuart-Smith, (2009); op cid. 30 Dudley, N., S. Stolton, A. Belokurov, L. Krueger, N. Lopoukhine, K. Totterdell, M.F. Weirig, Y. Yamanaka and A. Yool, (2005); Anthropogenic 11 Roberts, C. M. and J. P. Hawkins (2000); op cid. MacKinnon, T. Sandwith and N. Sekhran [editors] (2009); op cid. ocean acidification over the twenty-first century and its impacts on 12 Roberts, C. M. and J. P. Hawkins (2000); ibid. calcifying organisms. Nature. 437:681-686. 13 Dudley, N., S. Stolton, A. Belokurov, L. Krueger, N. Lopoukhine, Our coastlines are home to an amazing 5 Preen A.R., W.J.L. Long and R.G. Coles, (1995); Flood and cyclone K. MacKinnon, T. Sandwith and N. Sekhran [editors] (2009); Natural diversity of marine life related loss, and partial recovery, of more than 1000 km2 of seagrass in : Protected areas helping people cope with climate change, 1 Edmunds M, S. Mustoe, K. Stewart, E. Sheedy and J.Ong, (2010); Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia. Aquatic Botany. 52:1-2. IUCN-WCPA, The Nature Conservancy, UNDP, Wildlife Conservation op cid. 6 Woodroffe C.D. and D. Grime, (1999); Storm impact and evolution of Society, The World Bank and WWF, Gland, Switzerland, Washington DC 2 Edmunds M, S. Mustoe, K. Stewart, E. Sheedy and J.Ong, (2010); ibid. and New York. a mangrove-fringed chenier plain, Shoal Bay, Darwin, Australia. Marine 3 Edmunds M, S. Mustoe, K. Stewart, E. Sheedy and J.Ong, (2010); ibid. Geology 159:303-321. Stelzenmüller, V., F. Maynou and P. Martín (2008); Patterns of spe- 14 4 Department of Sustainability and Environment, (2009); Victoria’s Ma- 7 Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009); Fact Sheet: cies and functional diversity around a coastal marine reserve: a fisheries rine Habitats. Retrieved March 2, 2010 from http://www.land.vic.gov. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystem Future Coasts Preparing Victoria’s coast for climate change. Retrieved perspective, , au/DSE/nrencm.nsf/LinkView/F4E391A8EE6A6B0F4A256B66000844B- March 25, 2010 from http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/summit/ 19: 5, 554 – 565 and Stelzenmüller, V, F Maynou and P Martín (2007); 2B6A02932D8E4352D4A256B66001541D9. Resources/Future+Coasts+Fact+Sheet+Sept+2007%5B1%5D.pdf. Spatial assessment of benefits of a coastal Mediterranean Marine Protected Area, Biological Conservation 136:4, 571- 583. 5 Edmunds M, S. Mustoe, K. Stewart, E. Sheedy and J.Ong, (2010); 8 Hobday AJ, T.A Okey, E.S. Poloczanska, T.J.Kunz and A.J. Richardson op cid. [editors], (2006); op cid. 15 Stobart, B., R. Warwick, C. Gonzalez, S. Mallol, D. Diaz, O. Renones 6 Crawford, C., G. Jenkins and G. Edgar (1992); Water column tro- 9 Edmunds M, S. Mustoe, K. Stewart, E. Sheedy and J. Ong (2010); and R. Goni (2009); Long-term and spillover effects of a marine pro- Marine Ecology-Progress phodynamics in Port Phillip Bay. Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study, Draft Nature Conservation Review: Marine and Coastal Issues Paper. tected area on an exploited fish community, Series Technical Report No 1. CSIRO, canberra. Report to Victorian National Parks Association. Australian Marine 384: 47-60. 7 Hindell J.S. (2006); Assessing the trophic link between seagrass Ecology Report 405, Melbourne. 16 Claudet, J., D. Pelletier, J. Y. Jouvenel, F. Bachet and R. Galzin (2006); Assessing the effects of marine protected area (MPA) on a reef fish as- habitats and piscovorous fishes. Marine and Freshwater Research 57: 10 Hobday AJ, T.A Okey, E.S. 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Planes (2008); Spillover from six west- 9 Bell J.D. and D.A. Pollard (1989); Ecology of fish assemblages and ibid . ern Mediterranean marine protected areas: evidence from artisanal fisheries associated with seagrasses. Biology of Seagrasses: a treatise on 13 Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability , (2009); State of fisheries; Marine Ecology-Progress Series: 366: 159-174. the biology of seagrasses with special reference to the Australian region. the Environment Report, Victoria 2008: Part 4 State of the Environment. 18 Ashworth, J. S. and R. F. G. Ormond (2005); Effects of fishing pres- Larkum A. W. D., A.J. McComb and S.A. Shepard. Amsterdam, Elsevier. Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability, Melbourne. sure and trophic group on abundance and spillover across boundaries 10 Edmunds M, S. Mustoe, K. Stewart, E. Sheedy and J.Ong, (2010); 14 Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, (2009); of a no-take zone; Biological Conservation 121: 3, 333-344. ibid. Marine Pollution. Retrieved March 2, 2010 from http://www.environ- 19 McClanahan, T. R. and S. Mangi (2000); Spillover of Exploitable 11 Department of Sustainability and Environment, (2009); op cid. ment.gov.au/coasts/pollution/index.html. Fishes from a Marine Park and Its Effect on the Adjacent Fishery, 12 Kirkman H (1984); Standing stock and production of Ecklonia radiata 15 Climate Action Network Australia, (2006); Social Impacts of Climate Ecological Applications 10: 6, 1792-1805. (C. Ag.) J.Agardh. Journal of Experimental and Ecology Change . Retrieved March 2, 2010 from http://cana.net.au/socialim- 20 Kaunda-Arara, B. and G. A. Rose (2004); Effects of Marine Reef 76: 119-130. pacts/australia/population.html National Parks on fishery CPUE in coastal Kenya, Biological Conservation 13 Larkum A.W.D. (1986); A study of growth and primary production 16 Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability , (2009); op cid. 118:1–13. in Ecklonia radiata (C.Ag.) J. Agargh (Laminariales) at a shelteres site in 21 Kerwath, S. E., E. B. Thorstad, T. F. Næsje, P. D. Cowley, F. Økland, port Jackson, New South Wales. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology Marine parks and sanctuaries, critical for life in our oceans C. Wilke and C. G. Attwood (2009); Crossing Invisible Boundaries: the and Ecology 96: 177-190. 1 IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA) (2008); Effectiveness of the Langebaan Lagoon Marine Protected Area as a 14 Edmunds M, S. Mustoe, K. Stewart, E. Sheedy and J.Ong, (2010); Establishing Marine Protected Area Networks – Making it Happen. Harvest Refuge for a Migratory Fish Species in South Africa, Conserva- op cid. IUCN-WCPA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the tion Biology 23: 653–661. Nature Conservancy, Washington, D.C. 22 Abesamis R. A. and G. R. Russ (2005); Densitydependent spillover What is required to protect Victoria’s marine treasures? 2 Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2008); from a marine reserve: Long-term evidence, Ecological Applications 15: 1 The State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas (NRSMPA). 1798–1812. (2009), Securing Our Natural Future: A White paper for land and biodi- Retrieved February 16, 2009 from http://www.environment.gov.au/ 23 Unsworth, R. K. F., A. Powell, F. Hukom and D. J. Smith (2007); The versity at a time of climate change. pp 94-97. coasts/mpa/nrsmpa/index.html. ecology of Indo-Pacific grouper (Serranidae) species and the effects of 3 Edmunds M, S. Mustoe, K. Stewart, E. Sheedy and J. Ong (2010). a small scale no take area on grouper assemblage, abundance and size Marine information knowledge base 4 IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA), (2008); frequency distribution, Marine Biology 152: 243-254. 1 Commissioner Environmental Sustainability, (2008), State of op cid. 24 Paddack, M. J. and J. A. Estes (2000); Kelp forest fish populations Environment Report, Melbourne pp428- 496.

22 – Protecting our Seas & Shores You can help! Take action and help us get the message out

here are lots of ways to help protect our marine environment. Sending HOW YOU CAN HELP Tstrong and consistent messages • Spread the word – ask two friends to read this brochure. throughout the community and to our • Talk directly to decision makers. decision makers, such as the Premier and • Sign a postcard, write a letter, or email the politicians, helps strengthen the chance of Victorian Premier: Office of the Premier, protecting and preserving our unique and 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne, 3000. diverse coastline and marine treasures. OR write to your local politician. Go to http://apps.aec.gov.au/esearch/ to find out Blue Devilfish. VNPA has two important key your electorate and local member. Photo: Bill Boyle, courtesy DSE communication objectives: GET YOUR VIEW ON THE WEB Firstly, ensure the community is aware > YouTube: Submit a question to the Victorian Premier at www.premier.vic.gov.au/your-voice. of the threats and impacts on our marine > Facebook: Post comments to the Premier at www.premier.vic.gov.au/your-voice. environment, allowing them to get > Website: Leave a message for the Premier at www.premier.vic.gov.au/premier. involved in the campaign and comment on GET ACTIVE – JOIN REEF WATCH! the issues. Reef Watch helps you get involved in monitoring the health of your favourite reefs, and in so doing Secondly, we want the decision contribute to our knowledge of temperate marine ecosystems: www.reefwatch.vnpa.org.au. makers to be aware of the VNPA’s and JOIN US the community’s concern for our natural Become a VNPA member or join up your friends. Email [email protected] to receive our ebulletin. environment, especially now with the Learn more about our marine and coastal campaign by visiting www.marine.vnpa.org.au. urgency of climate change.

Old Wives. Photo: Dave Bryant, SEAPICS

Protecting our Seas & Shores — 23 Bastion Point near Mallacoota. Photo: Steve Wadsworth

‘Our vision is for a diverse and resilient Victorian marine environment, protected for future generations through an extensive network of highly protected areas.’ – Victorian National Parks Association Marine Vision

Victorian National Parks Association Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton, VIC 3053 • Phone: 03 9347 5188 • Fax: 03 9347 5199 • Email: [email protected] • Web: www.vnpa.org.au