Conservation and Management of Marine Fauna. Responsibilities and Priorities. Kelly Waples Marine Science Program DEC

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1 Conservation and Management of Marine Fauna Responsibilities and Priorities Kelly Waples Marine Science Program DEC

2 DEC - Role Conservation of marine biodiversity Marine Protected Areas 13, 12% of state waters Protected fauna management Fauna recovery plans, species management plans

3 DEC - Structure

4 DEC Structure (marine) Nature Conservation Division Marine Policy and Planning Species and Communities Nature Protection Environmental Management Science Division Marine Science

5 Marine Science Program Research Composition and function and ecosystems Impacts of human activities Effective conservation and management programs Monitoring Statewide monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework - WAMMP

6 Priority Research Topics Fauna population demographics Habitat use and critical habitats Reproductive and trophic ecology Threatening processes and sustainable levels of human interaction The role of MPAs in fauna management Historical analysis of marine fauna populations

7 Research questions- examples What is the level of interaction between ASL and gillnet and longline fisheries? What cost-effective methods and protocols should be used and over what spatial and temporal scale for long term monitoring of cetaceans/marine turtles/dugong/asl? What key/critical habitats for small cetaceans should be considered in the development of MPAs? How effective is the proposed Camden Sound Marine Park for protecting whales? What are the current levels of indigenous hunting and are they sustainable? What historical datasets are available on marine fauna distribution and abundance and how useful are they? What information do we need for the development of appropriate guidelines for the impacts of industrial activity on marine fauna? What is the current population size and temporal trends in abundance and distribution of dugong?

8 Prioritising Framework MP = V*P Where MP = management priority V = conservation value (biodiversity, ecological, social) P = pressure (biological intensity, spatial scale and likelihood)

9 Conservation status - Species Threatened fauna Humpback, southern right and blue whales Marine turtles Specially protected fauna Australian sealion Dugong New Zealand furseal Priority fauna Snubfin Humpback dolphins

10 External Collaboration Strategic partnerships with research organisations Government funded research collaborations (e.g. WAMSI) Seed funding program Joint positions Financial and in-kind support

11 Thank you

12 WAMMP process and documentation Process Documentation Strategic planning WAMMP Strategic Plan DEC conservation Marine Protected Area Management Plans Threatened Fauna Recovery Plans Historical understanding Historical Time-Series Guidelines Historical Time-Series Manuscript Asset monitoring: What to measure (CPR), How to measure it, and Why Fitting monitoring projects to Parks Defined spatial, temporal regimes Science designs and approvals Asset Knowledge Review Guidelines Asset Knowledge Reviews Fit to Park Generic Guidelines Fit to Park for Assets Asset/Special Issue Concept Plans Asset/Special Issue Science Project Plans Operational instructions Annual reporting matrix Standard operating procedures Fieldwork Science reporting, and DEC/MPRA Audit process Field operations plan, JSA and dive plan BacktoPark, Metadata, Technical reports Annual Audit process guidelines and input

13 Assets_KPI s 12 Concentrate on KPI s 11 Get the Reviews and Fit to Park right 10 9 Incremental advances Coastal birds Invertebrates Geomorphology Finfish Seagrass Intertidal Cetaceans Coral reefs Macroalgae WQ and Sed quality Turtles Soft-bottom Sea lions Mangroves Sharks and rays Dugongs Marine mammals Riparian vegetation Little penguins Coastal biological Deep reefs Manta rays Whale sharks Reefs Sandy beaches Microbials Frequency