Submission to the Inquiry Into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria
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LC EPC Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria Submission 815 Submission to the Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria Document Control Sheet Description This is a submission to the Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria on marine ecosystem and environmental science and governance matters. Keywords Ecosystem decline, marine ecosystems, marine science, scientific standards, ecosystem based management, EIA, EES, monitoring and evaluation, marine knowledge framework, oversight and auditing, environmental responsibility, Victorian marine natural values. Citation Edmunds M (2020). Submission to the Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria. Australian Marine Ecology Report No. 568. Melbourne. Amendments Version Section Date Amendment Details 1 All 30-08-20 Submission Distribution Copy Holder Section/Organisation 1 EPC Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee 2 Library Australian Marine Ecology File Project Package Report Version Approved Date Issued 1 568 01 Managing Director 31-08-20 31-08-20 Australian Marine Ecology Pty Ltd [email protected] www.marine-ecology.com.au ABN 87 090 556 595 © 2020 by Australian Marine Ecology Pty Ltd, all rights reserved. Copyright subsists in all Australian Marine Ecology Pty Ltd deliverables including magnetic, optical and/or any other soft copy of these deliverables. This document may not be reproduced, in full or in part, without written permission from Australian Marine Ecology or its Client. R568-01 Australian Marine Ecology 2 of 46 LC EPC Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria Submission 815 Contents 1 Submission ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Submission Details ......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Background .................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Marine and Coastal Submission .................................................................... 1 2 Decline in Marine Ecosystems ............................................................................ 2 2.1 State of Knowledge ........................................................................................ 2 2.2 Port Phillip Bay ............................................................................................. 2 2.3 Port Phillip Heads ......................................................................................... 5 2.4 Westernport .................................................................................................... 7 2.5 Corner Inlet .................................................................................................... 8 2.6 Gippsland Lakes............................................................................................. 9 2.7 Open Coast Habitats ...................................................................................... 9 3 Adequacy of the Legislative Framework ......................................................... 12 3.1 Fishery Act ................................................................................................... 12 3.2 Environment Protection Authority Act......................................................... 13 3.3 FFG Act ....................................................................................................... 15 3.4 EES Act, VCAT and Planning Approvals .................................................... 16 3.5 Marine and Coastal Act ............................................................................... 18 4 Protecting and Restoring Ecosystems .............................................................. 19 4.1 Monitoring Environmental Status ................................................................ 19 4.2 Management Responses ............................................................................... 20 4.3 Ecological Impact Assessment ..................................................................... 20 4.4 Building Ecological Knowledge .................................................................. 21 5 Management in Context of Climate Change ................................................... 23 5.1 Reducing Emissions ..................................................................................... 23 5.2 Regulating Green Industries ........................................................................ 23 5.3 Managing Resilience to Climate Change .................................................... 24 5.4 No Recovery – Preserve Existing Natural Capital ...................................... 25 R568-01 Australian Marine Ecology 3 of 46 LC EPC Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria Submission 815 5.5 Management and Scientific Directions ........................................................ 26 5.6 Now or Never ............................................................................................... 26 6 Upholding Connection to Country ................................................................... 27 6.1 Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge ......................................................... 27 6.2 Indigenous Science Programs...................................................................... 27 6.3 Co-Management and Stewardship ............................................................... 28 7 Related Matters – Scientific Aspects ................................................................ 29 7.1 Information Needs ........................................................................................ 29 7.2 Trends in Science Practices ......................................................................... 29 7.3 Professional Scientific Capital .................................................................... 30 7.4 Standards and Ethics ................................................................................... 30 8 Opportunities and Recommendations.............................................................. 32 9 Bibliography ....................................................................................................... 33 10 Appendix A – Curriculum Vitae ........................................................................ 34 R568-01 Australian Marine Ecology 4 of 46 LC EPC Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria Submission 815 Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline - Submission 1 1 Submission 1.1 Submission Details Submission to: The Committee Manager Standing Committee on Environment and Planning Parliament House, Spring Street East Melbourne, VIC 3002 This submission was prepared by: Dr Matt Edmunds Principal Ecologist Australian Marine Ecology Pty Ltd 82 Parsons St, Kensington, VIC 3031 Contact: 0407 088 840, [email protected] 1.2 Background This submission was based on direct observations and scientific studies of Victorian marine ecosystems since the mid 1990s and recent work on compiling, centralising and reviewing all available scientific marine imagery and data bases for the Government’s Marine Knowledge Framework. Dr Edmunds has first hand experience of many of the ecosystems and changes over the last three decades, as well as changes with historical data. This includes being involved with the subtidal reef and intertidal reef long-term monitoring programs, as well as conservation and impact assessment and monitoring for seagrass, sediment and deep sponge garden habitats. Dr Edmunds has considerable experience in the processes of environmental and impact assessments, monitoring and the processes around protecting the sustainability of marine ecosystems and matters of conservation significance. He has varied experience in the application of science for supporting planning and decisions for good environmental outcomes. A curriculum vitae is provided in the Appendix. 1.3 Marine and Coastal Submission This submission presents information to the Standing Committee on Environment and Planning with respect to scientific observations and professional experiences in the marine and coastal environments. This submission highlights present issues and opportunities for improvement. Because of time constraints with another major EES review occurring at the same and COVID-19 stage 4 restrictions, this submission is somewhat rushed and is lacking in the provision of supporting evidence and citations. More detailed information and citations can be provided on request. R568-01 Australian Marine Ecology 5 of 46 LC EPC Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline in Victoria Submission 815 Inquiry into Ecosystem Decline - Decline in Marine Ecosystems 2 2 Decline in Marine Ecosystems (a) The extent of the decline of Victoria’s biodiversity and the likely impact on people, particularly First Peoples, and ecosystems, if more is not done to address this, including consideration of climate change impacts. 2.1 State of Knowledge The following is a general overview of decline of marine ecosystems in Victoria, but is by no means complete or comprehensive. It should be acknowledged that there are large knowledge gaps in our present understanding of marine ecosystems in Victoria. There have been few standardised ecological long-term monitoring programs. These were being confined to the abalone stock assessment program that included some other reef species, subtidal reef monitoring program and intertidal reef monitoring program. Standardised ecosystem monitoring was discontinued in 2015 (the abalone program continued but measures only abalone species). There have been sporadic large-scale investigations, but