MARINE BIODIVERSITY hub JUNE 2015 2011–2015 A national research collaboration delivering marine FINAL REPORT biodiversity knowledge to the Australian Government Copyright and disclaimer Preferred citation – report The NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub Final Report Bax, N.J. & Hedge, P. [Eds.]. 2015. Marine Biodiversity 2011–2015 is licensed by the University of Tasmania Hub, National Environmental Research Program, for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Final report 2011–2015. Report to Department Australia Licence. For licence conditions, see of the Environment. Canberra, Australia. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Preferred citation – individual items Acknowledgement Lead author, additional contributors in alphabetical This work was undertaken by the Marine Biodiversity order. 2015. Title. Pages xx-yy in Bax, N.J. & Hub, a collaborative partnership supported through Hedge, P. [Eds]. 2015. Marine Biodiversity Hub, funding from the Australian Government’s National National Environmental Research Program, Environmental Research Program (NERP). Final report 2011–2015. Report to Department of the Environment. Canberra, Australia. Important Disclaimer The NERP Marine Biodiversity Hub advises that the Enquiries information contained in this publication comprises Prof N.J. Bax, Director, Marine Biodiversity Hub general statements based on scientific research. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such University of Tasmania information may be incomplete or unable to be used CSIRO Marine Laboratories in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must Castray Esplanade therefore be made on that information without seeking GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001 prior expert professional, scientific and technical Phone: (03) 6232 5341 advice. To the extent permitted by law, the NERP Email: [email protected] Marine Biodiversity Hub (including its host organisation, employees, partners and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. IMAGE: William White, CSIRO MARINE BIODIVERSITY hub 2011–2015 A national research collaboration delivering marine FINAL REPORT biodiversity knowledge to the Australian Government JUNE 2015 www.nerpmarine.edu.au National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Title: Marine Biodiversity Hub, National Environmental Research Program, final report 2011–2014: report to Department of the Environment, Canberra, Australia/editors N.J. Bax and P. Hedge. ISBN: 9781486305261 (paperback) 9781486305254 (ebook : pdf) Subjects: Marine biodiversity conservation–Australia–Management. Endangered species–Australia–Management. Environmental monitoring–Australia. Marine resources–Australia–Management. Marine parks and reserves–Australia–Management. Other Creators/Contributors: Bax, Nicholas J., editor. Hedge, Paul, editor. FRONT COVER: A hard coral in 10─20 m Marine Biodiversity Research Hub (Australia) depth reef habitat at the Houtman Dewey Number: 578.770994 Abrolhos Islands. Image: Reef Life Survey Contents Chairman’s foreword .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Director’s overview ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 Knowledge brokering ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Section 1: Protecting conservation values in the Commonwealth marine area ......................................... 7 The need ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Canyons: identifying connectivity patterns for management .................................................................................... 9 Improving access to information about fish communities in Commonwealth marine reserves ............................... 13 Exploring the origins of Australian marine diversity .................................................................................................. 14 First maps of biodiversity across Australia’s seafloor .................................................................................................16 Collating existing pressure data for the Commonwealth marine area ....................................................................... 18 Assessing relative and cumulative impact on the marine environment .................................................................... 19 Biodiversity offsets in the marine environment .........................................................................................................20 Potential for incentive-based management for marine conservation ...................................................................... 21 Landscape approaches for managing sharks and rays .............................................................................................. 22 Identifying important areas for pelagic fish .............................................................................................................. 23 Predicting benthic impacts and recovery to support biodiversity management in the South-east Marine Region ....24 Collating existing survey data for Commonwealth marine waters ............................................................................26 Analysis of approaches for monitoring biodiversity in the Commonwealth marine area: Oceanic Shoals ............... 27 Analysis of approaches for monitoring biodiversity in the Commonwealth marine area: Houtman Abrolhos Islands ... 30 Analysis of approaches for monitoring biodiversity in the Commonwealth marine area: Solitary Islands .............. 32 Putting names to a sea of faces ................................................................................................................................. 33 Marine monitoring blueprint: meeting a monumental challenge ............................................................................ 35 Section 2: Supporting the recovery of threatened, endangered and protected species ....................... 37 The need .................................................................................................................................................................... 38 Populations and habitat use of euryhaline sharks and rays ...................................................................................... 39 Partnering with indigenous communities ................................................................................................................. 42 White Shark population and abundance trends ........................................................................................................ 44 Estimating population size and characteristics of rare and endangered species ..................................................... 46 Supporting the IUCN Red List .................................................................................................................................... 48 Section 3: Management of Commonwealth marine reserves and the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area .............................................................................................. 49 The need .................................................................................................................................................................... 50 Applying spatially balanced survey designs to monitor indicators in Commonwealth marine reserves .................. 51 Valuing the South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network ........................................................................ 53 Surveys of Commonwealth marine reserves: Flinders .............................................................................................. 54 Southern Rock Lobster thrive in Tasman Fracture CMR ........................................................................................... 56 Surveys of Commonwealth marine reserves: Geographe ......................................................................................... 57 Sand and granite reef communities revealed at Freycinet CMR ............................................................................... 58 Surveys of Commonwealth marine reserves: Coral Sea ............................................................................................ 59 Shaping integrated monitoring for the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area ...................................................... 61 Section 4: International extension ........................................................................................................................ 63 The need .................................................................................................................................................................... 64 Reef Life Survey global analysis of marine protected areas .......................................................................................65 Supporting biodiversity management across the globe ...........................................................................................