Revisiting Mackay Online

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: Intergovernmental relations

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. It is recognised and appreciated worldwide as a unique environment and for this reason has been inscribed on the World Heritage List. The Reef is economically-important to Queensland and Australia, supporting substantial tourism and fishing industries. Management of the Great Barrier Reef to ensure conservation of its natural qualities in perpetuity is achieved through the establishment of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The maintenance of water quality to protect the reef and the industries which depend on it is becoming an increasingly important management issue requiring better knowledge and possibly new standards of treatment and discharge.

The extended Poisson process model is a generalisation of the simple Poisson process. It allows for the construction of distributions that can be over-dispersed or under-dispersed relative to the Poisson distribution. The modelling includes the Poisson and negative binomial distributions as special cases. Generally, a broad class of dispersion models can be characterised in an intuitive and appealing way by a simple parameterisation. By incorporating transition modelling techniques the extended Poisson process model can be used to model longitudinal count data. The technique is illustrated by analysing the epilepsy data in Thall and Vail (1990). Comparing a number of analyses of the data shows that some covariates have a more significant effect using this modelling than from using mixed Poisson models. It is argued that this could be due to the mixed Poisson models used in the other analyses not providing an appropriate description of the residual variation, with the greater flexibility of the extended Poisson process model generally enabling more critical assessment of covariate effects than more standard mixed Poisson modelling. The extended Poisson process model is also applied to data from a repeated trawl study in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park conducted by CSIRO Marine Research and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries. Prawn trawling is a major fishing activity in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, generating millions of dollars for the Australian economy. It is important that appropriate management decisions are made to ensure the sustainability of the industry. The study was conducted to quantify the recovery of seabed fauna after repeated trawling. Data from the study were composed of counts of observed benthic organisms on the seabed. It was found that the extended Poisson process model more faithfully described the data than more standard models such as those based on Poisson or negative binomial distribution. It is argued that the use of inappropriate models can result in unreliable inferences, which in turn could lead to poor management decisions. Fitting the extended Poisson process model with covariate dependent mean can be problematic because of the computing burden. A Fisher scoring algorithm is developed for the extended Poisson process model that considerably reduces the computation required. Quine's absence from school data (see Aitkin, 1978) are analysed using this Fisher scoring algorithm for the extended Poisson process model, and the results contrasted with an analysis of the data by Venables and Ripley (2002). It is found that the extended Poisson process model sharpens the statistical tests for regression terms in the model, resulting in different inferences from those based on the negative binomial distribution. In addition, the Fisher scoring algorithm reduced the computation time for parameter estimation from over seven days to less than one hour for each model fitted. It is also shown that the Fisher scoring algorithm for the extended Poisson process model can be expressed as an iterative re-weighted least squares algorithm. This puts parameter estimation for the extended Poisson process model under the same umbrella as standard generalised linear models, making it simpler to implement in existing statistical packages such as GLIM which use iterative re-weighted least squares to estimate parameters.n

Media representations of risk: The reporting of dredge spoil disposal in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park at Abbot Point

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are being used increasingly to manage and protect marine resources. Most studies of MPAs have focused on fish. In this study, the influence of MPA protection on coral reef benthic organisms on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) was investigated. In addition, the interaction between protection and natural disturbance history was examined. Differences in benthic cover inside and outside MPAs were assessed at 15 pairs of Protected and General Use reefs on the GBR using annual monitoring data from the Australian Institute of Marine Science's Long‐Term Monitoring Programme (LTMP). At each reef, benthic cover was determined using a benthic video survey at three sites, with each site consisting of five 50 m transect lines separated by at least 250 m running parallel to the reef crest at 6–9 m depth. Benthic cover was related to both protection status and disturbance history, but natural perturbations exerted a stronger influence on benthic cover than did protection status. The influence of natural perturbation was most noticeable for hard coral. Most reefs where no natural disturbance events had occurred (‘undisturbed reefs’) had higher hard coral cover and lower soft coral cover than General Use reefs. While the high levels of hard coral on Protected reefs may be a result of protection status, it might also have resulted from selection bias that occurred during the initial zoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (i.e. managers may have given protection status to reefs with high coral cover). These results are likely influenced by the relatively low intensity of human use, both on the Great Barrier Reef in general and at the particular monitoring sites studied. Over time, as local populations and tourism increase, the effect of protection may become more evident at LTMP sites. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Developing a long-term outlook for the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: A framework for adaptive management reporting underpinning an ecosystem-based management approach

Effects of fishing on tropical reef associated shark populations on the Great Barrier Reef

The iconic and beautiful Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. With contributions from international experts, this timely and fully updated second edition of The Great Barrier Reef describes the animals, plants and other organisms of the reef, as well as the biological, chemical and physical processes that influence them. It contains new chapters on shelf slopes and fisheries and addresses pressing issues such as climate change, ocean acidification, coral bleaching and disease, and invasive species. The Great Barrier Reef is a must-read for the interested reef tourist, student, researcher and environmental manager. While it has an Australian focus, it can equally be used as a reference text for most Indo-Pacific coral reefs.

Given the focus on protecting natural assets in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), it is important for managers and policy makers to understand the value of recreational activities such as fishing in the area, and how changes in management may affect those recreational values. This paper reports research estimating the value of recreational fishing along the Capricorn Coast in Central Queensland. Travel cost methods were used to estimate the value of recreational fishing using data from on-site surveys conducted at boat ramps along the Capricorn Coast. The study also uses contingent behaviour models to estimate the change in the value of recreational fishing as conditions vary. Results indicate that there are high values associated with recreational fishing activity along the Capricorn Coast, that the demand for recreational fishing is inelastic and that values are not sensitive to changes in catch rates.

Environmental management of military activities is of growing global concern by defence forces. As one of the largest landholders in Australia, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is increasingly concerned with sustainable environmental management. This paper focuses on how the ADF is maintaining effective environmental management, especially in environmentally sensitive marine protected areas. It uses Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as a research example to examine environmental management strategies conducted by the ADF. SWBTA is one of the most significant Defence training areas in Australia, with a large number of single, joint and combined military exercises conducted in the area. With its maritime component contained in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA), and abutting Queensland’s State Marine Parks, it has high protection values. It is therefore vital for the ADF to adopt environmentally responsible management while they are conducting military activities. As to various tools employed to manage environmental performance, the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) is widely used by the ADF. This paper examines military activities and marine environmental management within SWBTA, using the Talisman Saber (TS) exercise series as an example. These are extensive joint exercises conducted by the ADF and the United States defence forces. The paper outlines relevant legislative framework and environmental policies, analyses how the EMS operates in environmental management of military activities, and how military activities comply with these regulations. It discusses the implementation of the ADF EMS, including risk reduction measures, environmental awareness training, consultation and communication with stakeholders. A number of environmental management actions used in the TS exercises are presented to demonstrate the EMS application. Our investigations to this point indicate that the ADF is complying with all relevant legislation and policies. Further research is required to confirm compliance and conclude that military activities have good accord with environmental management objectives.

Prey selection can influence interactions among species, the composition and abundance of prey, and ultimately the movement of energy within the ecosystem. Different species of the exploited coral trout Plectropomus spp. often co-occur in reef environments, but their foraging behaviour and ecological niches are largely unknown. To explore niche overlap and resource use of sympatric adult coral trout, stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) were quantified for 3 tissues (muscle, red blood cells, and plasma) collected between August 2013 and February 2014 from P. leopardus (n = 117) and P. laevis (n = 36) at 4 reefs in eastern Australia. Bayesian standard ellipses were used to show that prey selection of P. leopardus varied considerably from P. laevis, particularly from P. laevis in the blue-spot colour phase. Size of adult individuals had little influence on δ13C and δ15N values for P. leo pardus and both footballer and blue-spot colour phases of P. laevis. Spatiotemporal comparisons of P. leopardus trophic positions, made by adjusting baseline algae and planktonic δ15N at each reef and sampling period, demonstrated that trophic positions varied in time and space, and warrants further investigation. This study highlights that sympatric species of coral trout have distinct ecological roles and will likely react differently to environmental disturbances and/or changes in habitat or prey composition.

In 1984 and 1985, during surveys designed primarily to census dugongs, six species of sea turtles were counted from the air at an overall sampling intensity of 9% over a total area of 31 288 km2 within the northern sections of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The sea turtles were not identified to species. We attempted to correct sightings for perception bias (the proportion of animals visible in the transect which are missed by observers), and to standardise for availability bias (the.proportion of animals that are invisible due to water turbidity) with survey-specific correction factors. The resultant minimum population estimate in November 1985 was (mean ± s.e.) 32 187 ± 2532 sea turtles at an overall density of 1.03 ± 0.08 km-2, a precision of 8%. We consider this to be a gross underestimate of numbers present. Significant differences between population and density estimates obtained from repeat surveys of the same areas were accounted for by differences in Beaufort sea state and cloud cover. The analysis of covariance data suggested that we had not been successful in standardising all biases. Turtles were widely distributed throughout the Great Barrier Reef lagoon from inshore seagrass beds to mid- and outer-shelf reefs. Highest densities were observed on inshore seagrass beds and on mid-shelf reefs, particularly between Murdoch Island and Cape Melville, and in Princess Charlotte Bay. Maps of density and distribution are given. We discuss the value and limitations of this survey regime for censusing sea turtles.

A large scale BACI experiment to test the effects of prawn trawling on seabed biota in a closed area of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia

This article investigates determinants of satisfaction for recreational fishers and nonfishers boating in Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Trip satisfaction was modeled as a function of subjective evaluations of various trip aspects. Satisfaction of fishers and nonfishers was related to evaluations of environment quality and weather quality. Satisfaction of fishers was also related to evaluations of fishing quality. There was no effect of evaluation of marine life quality, facilities quality, number of people encountered, number of vessels encountered, or number of wildlife encounters on satisfaction for either group. Results are consistent with the multiple-satisfactions concept of recreation satisfaction, and provide insights into the types of experiences sought by fishers and nonfishers in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

In this paper the author ar-gues that the zoning methodol-ogy adopted by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority must be closely assessed by State governments as a basis for managing new marine environments. Lorne Kriwoken suggests that the Ningaloo Marine Park pro-posal in Western Australia should be closely scrutinized by GBRMPA and State gov-ernments as it represents an important step towards an ecological basis to manage-ment.