Provide a summary of ecological communities listed as threatened under the EPBC Act that are considered to be adversely affected by the threatening process. For each ecological community please provide:
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the complete title (exactly as listed) and category of listing under the EPBC Act; and
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justification for each ecological community that is claimed to be affected adversely by the threatening process.
The nominator it not aware of any ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act that are adversely impacted upon by the nominated key threatening process.
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Threat Abatement | | | 12.THREAT ABATEMENT
Give an overview of how threats posed by this process are being abated by current (or proposed) activities. Identify who is undertaking these activities and how successful the activities have been to date.
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Australian snubfin dolphin
Thiele (2010) lists conservation strategies required to protect Australian snubfin dolphins throughout their distribution across northern tropical Australia including: rapid population assessment and spatial habitat modelling as recommended by the Conservation on Migratory Species (CMS) to identify all critical habitat areas; protection of the areas identified through the appropriate designation of sanctuaries, Indigenous Protected Areas or other management frameworks; simple behavioural changes such as reduced boat speeds and minimising sudden changes of direction in critical areas; and uplisting current conservation status of the species to Threatened under the EPBC Act.
Dugong
The Recovery Plan for the conservation of the Dugong (D. dugon) in Queensland 1999-2004 proposes three main management approaches. These include prohibiting high speed boat races in areas which coincide with dugong habitat; restricting vessel operation in particular regions such as Moreton Bay Marine Park; and monitoring boat traffic in areas such as these and restricting vessel speed limits where necessary in conjunction with the Department of Transport. The plan also identifies boat strike as a significant threat to the species, particularly in shallow waters and where fast boats are used (Queensland EPA, 1999).
Future management of this region must focus on the reduction of boat strike incidence by creating additional “go slow” zones. Five “go slow” zones were introduced in Moreton Bay in 1997 whereby regulated speeds are prescribed for recreational vessels. Currently it appears that these zones are ineffective, with four out of five dugongs struck by boats in 2004 within the Moreton Bay Marine Park (Greenland & Limpus, 2005).
Vessel transit lanes have been installed in Missionary Bay with the use of 3 beacons and 3 navigation buoys. Speed limits of 10 knots over seagrass beds and 25 knots within these transit lanes are encouraged. This aims to create speed regulated lanes in deeper waters, away from shallow water feeding grounds, and in turn reduce incidence of boat strike, however it is unclear how these aims will be policed and enforced.
Hodgson (2004) found that the majority (64%) of boats observed travelling close to dugong herds on Moreton Banks were exceeding planning speeds, while Groom (2003) found that voluntary transit lanes and speed limits in the Hinchinbrook area had an even lower compliance rate (74% and 80% respectively).
Turtles
Actions to mitigate incidental mortality and monitor the boat strike of marine turtles recommended in the Federal Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia (Marine Species Section, 2003) can be found in Figure 2. Hazel et al. (2007) state that “Management authorities have sought to mitigate vessel-related injuries to wildlife by identifying locations of particular importance for vulnerable species. Vessel operators are urged to increase vigilance within these areas, where recommended or obligatory routes and speed restrictions may apply. Other protective measures such as acoustic warning devices have been proposed (e.g. Gerstein, 2002) but their utility in the wild remains uncertain.”
| 13.DEVELOPMENT OF THREAT ABATEMENT PLAN
Would the development of a threat abatement plan be a feasible, effective and efficient way to abate the process? What other measures could be undertaken?
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Yes, lower boat speeds and avoidance of known ‘hot-spots’ of impacted species, see section 18 for more details.
However, with regard to green turtles, Hazel et al. (2007) identified the trade-off between minimising potential inconvenience to vessel operators and optimal protection for marine wildlife as a management challenge, reinforced by results which indicated a very slow speed (around 4km/h) is necessary to assure ‘turtle-safe’ transit across shallow foraging sites.
| 14.ELEMENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN A THREAT ABATEMENT PLAN
If the threatening process is recommended for listing under the EPBC Act, what elements could a threat abatement plan include?
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A Threat Abatement Plan (TAP) is an essential and effective means by which to administer a dedicated response to the threat of boat strikes on marine species. The ultimate goal of the TAP should be to minimise boat strike to marine animals along the eastern coast of Australia, by public awareness, legislation and a comprehensive system of enforceable speed limits along the coast.
Alternatives to speed reduction such as propeller guards are likely to be ineffective without speed limits, serving to limit damage to the boat but not reducing the sheer force of impact on the hit animal. Whether by a turning propeller or a stationary propeller guard, the issue causing injury is simply the speed of the vessel. Designating ‘go-slow’ zones has limited effect, as shown by the continued high levels of turtle boat strike in Moreton Bay.
This also illustrates that effective enforcement of speed restrictions is necessary. A TAP is needed to assess speed limits, formulating a system on water such as exists effectively and safely on our roads – with areas of high, moderate and slow speeds depending on the extent of marine life in danger of boat strike and general disturbance in the area. It has proven politically difficult to impose speed limits on water, despite wildlife experts and authorities calling for them. Listing boat strike as a KTP will help to strengthen arguments by state wildlife authorities that such limits are necessary, and a TAP would help to introduce them. With modern technology it will also be possible to enforce these limits as it has not been in the past – there are speed guns which work on water, GPS tracking systems and most boats have speedometers on them.
The installation of precautionary signage near Dugong Protected Areas and areas with resident turtle populations are an important form of public awareness, administered by the GBRMPA and the Hinchinbrook Regional Marine Resource Advisory Committee. These management options should be acknowledged and extended in a TAP for this threatening process.
Recognition of boat strikes as a major anthropogenic cause of injury and mortality of listed marine species, and the potential for unlisted species to become listed warrants action. A public awareness campaign is being conducted by the GBRMPA, incorporating advising the public to reduce boating speeds within the Marine Park via televised community service announcements (GBRMPA). Legal requirements as well as Best Environment Practices have also been developed by GBRMPA in order to educate vessel operators on the threat to marine species, and could be included in the TAP for this key threatening process.
Listing this KTP will help enforce practices such as speed zones, signage, posting information to local coastal residents as well as legislation and fines. The preparation of a TAP would be facilitate further co-operation between Queensland and Commonwealth agencies and stakeholders to abate this key threat which is projected to increase with increasing boat traffic.
| 15.ADDITIONAL THREAT ABATEMENT INFORMATION
Is there other information that relates to threat abatement that you would like to provide?
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No.
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Indigenous Values | | | 16.INDIGENOUS CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Is the key threatening process known to have an impact on species or country culturally significant to Indigenous groups within Australia? If so, to which groups? Provide information on the nature of this significance if publicly available.
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Species impacted upon by the nominated key threatening process, such as marine turtles and dugongs, are culturally significant to Indigenous groups within Australia, and are traditionally hunted.
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Reviewers and Further Information | | | 17.REVIEWER(S)
Has this nomination been reviewed? Have relevant experts been consulted on this nomination? If so, please include their names and current professional positions.
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This nomination has been reviewed by Humane Society International staff.
| 18.MAJOR STUDIES
Identify major studies that might assist in the assessment of the nominated threatening process.
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Groom, R.A. (2003) The efficacy of the voluntary vessel transit lanes in Missionary Bay, Hinchinbrook Island for dugong conservation management. Honours thesis, School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography. James Cook University, Townsville.
Hazel, J., Lawler, I.R., Marsh, H. & Robson, S. (2007) Vessel speed increases collision risk for the green turtle Chelonia mydas. Endangered Species Research 3: 105-113.
Hodgson, A.J. (2004) Dugong behaviour and responses to human influences. PhD thesis, School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography. James Cook University, Townsville.
Maitland, R.N., Lawler, I.R. & Sheppard, J.K. (2006) Assessing the risk of boat strike on Dugongs Dugong dugon at Burrum Heads, Queensland, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 12: 321-26.
Norman, B. M. (1999) Aspects of the biology and ecotourism industry of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in north-western Australia. MSc Thesis, Murdoch University, 115 pp.
Thiele, D. (2010) Collision course: Snubfin dolhpin injuries in Roebuck Bay. World Wildlife Fund Australia.
| 19.FURTHER INFORMATION
Identify relevant studies or management documentation that might relate to the species (e.g. research projects, national park management plans, recovery plans, conservation plans, threat abatement plans, etc.).
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Federal recovery plans developed by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities are available for the humpback whale, whale shark, and all marine turtle species.
| 20.REFERENCE LIST
Please list key references/documentation you have referred to in your nomination.
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Baker, C.S., Florez-Gonzalez, L., Abernethy, B., Rosenbaum, H.C., Slade, R.W., Capella, J. & Bannister, J.L. (1998) Mitochondrial DNA variation and maternal gene flow among humpback whales of the Southern Hemisphere. Marine Mammal Science 14 : 721-737
Beasley, I., Robertson, K.M. & Arnold, P. (2005) Description of a new dolphin, the Australian snubfin dolphin Orcaella heinsohni sp. n. (Cetacea, Delphinidae). Marine Mammal Science 21(3): 365-400.
Biddle, T.M., Boyle, M. & Limpus, C.J. (2011) Marine wildlife stranding and mortality database annual report 2009 and 2010. Dugong. Conservation Technical and Data Report 2010 (2):1-59.
Dobbs, K. (2001) Marine turtles in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville.
Gerstein, E.R. (2002) Manatees, bioacoustics and boats. American Scientist 90(2): 154-163.
Greenland, J.A., Limpus, C.J., Currie, K.J. & Brieze, I. (2005) Marine Wildlife Stranding and Mortality Database Annual Report 2003, II. Cetacian and Pinniped. Queensland Environment Protection Agency.
Groom, R.A. (2003) The efficacy of the voluntary vessel transit lanes in Missionary Bay, Hinchinbrook Island for dugong conservation management. Honours thesis, School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography. James Cook University, Townsville.
Gudger, E.W. (1940) Whale sharks rammed by ocean vessels. How these sluggish leviathans aid in their own destruction. New England Naturalist 7: 1-10.
Haines, J.A. & Limpus, C.J. (2001) Marine wildlife stranding and mortality database annual report 2000, III. Marine Turtles. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Harriot, V.J. (2002) Marine Tourism Impacts and their Management on the Great barrier Reef. Cooperative Research Centre Reef Research Centre Technical Report No 46. Cooperative Research Centre Reef, Townsville.
Hazel, J., Lawler, I.R., Marsh, H. & Robson, S. (2007) Vessel speed increases collision risk for the green turtle Chelonia mydas. Endangered Species Research 3: 105-113.
Heppell, S.S., Limpus, C.J., Crouse D.T., Frazer, N.B. & Crowder, L.B. (1996) Population model analysis or the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, in Queensland. Wildlife Research. 23 (2): 143-59
Hodgson, A.J. (2004) Dugong behaviour and responses to human influences. PhD thesis, School of Tropical Environment Studies and Geography. James Cook University, Townsville.
Hodgson, A.J. & Marsh, H.M. (2007) Response of dugongs to boat traffic: The risk of disturbance and displacement. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 340: 50-61.
IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. (2011) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
Jefferson, T.A. (2000) Population biology of the Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin in Hong Kong waters. Wildlife Monographs. 144:65.
Jensen, A.S. & Silber, G.K. (2003) Large Whale Ship Strike Database. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA Technical Memorandum. NMFS-OPR-, 37 pp.
Limpus C.J., Miller, J.D., Parmenter, C.J., Reimer, D., McLachlan, N. & Webb, R. (1992) Migration of green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead (Caretta caretta) turtles to and from eastern Australian rookeries. Wildlife Research 19: 347–358.
Limpus, C.J., Couper, P.J. & Read, M.A. (1994) The green turtle, Chelonia mydas, in Queensland: Population structure in a warm temperate feeding area. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 35(1): 139–154.
Limpus, C., Currie, K.J. & Haines, J.A. (2002) Marine Wildlife Stranding and Mortality Database Annual Report 2002, II Cetacean and Pinniped. Queensland Environment Protection Agency.
Maitland, R.N., Lawler, I.R. & Sheppard, J.K. (2006) Assessing the risk of boat strike on Dugongs Dugong dugon at Burrum Heads, Queensland, Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology 12: 321-26.
Marine Species Section. (2003) Recovery Plan for Marine Turtles in Australia. Approvals and Wildlife Division, Environment Australia.
Marsh H., Heinshon, G.E. & Marsh L.M. (1984) Breeding cycle, life history and population dynamics of the Dugong, Dugong dugon (Sirenia: Dugongidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 32: 767-88.
Marsh, H., Penrose, H., Eros, C. & Hugues, J. (2002) Dugong Status Report and Action Plans for Countries and Territories. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi.
Marsh, H., De'ath, G., Gribble, N. & Lane, B. (2005) Historical marine population estimates: triggers or targets for conservation? The dugong case study.
Marsh, H. (2008) Dugong dugon. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 March 2012.
Mau, R. (2006) Managing for conservation and recreation: The Ningaloo whale shark experience. Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation. 2nd International Wildlife Tourism Conference, Freemantle, Western Australia.
MSIAR - Marine Safety Incident Annual Report. (2003) Published for Maritime Safety Queensland.
NSW Scientific Committee. (2001) Loggerhead turtle – endangered species listing final determination. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/determinations/LoggerheadTurtleEndSpListing.htm
Norman, B. M. (1999) Aspects of the biology and ecotourism industry of the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) in north-western Australia. MSc Thesis, Murdoch University, 115 pp.
Parish, J. (2001) Col Limpus and His Turtle Cowboys. International Wildlife.
Parra, G., Azuma, C., Preen, A.R., Corkeron, P.J. & Marsh, H. (2002) Distribution of Irrawaddy dolphins, Orcaella brevirostris, in Australian waters. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 10: 141-154.
Preen, T. (2000) Dugongs, boats, dolphins and turtles in the Townsville-Cardwell region and recommendations for a boat traffic management plan for the Hinchinbrook Dugong Protection Area. Great Barrier Marine Park Authority. Research publication 67.
Queensland Environment Protection Agency (EPA). (1999) Conservation and management of the dugong in Queensland 1999-2004.
Reeves, R.R., Jefferson, T.A., Karczmarski, L., Laidre, K., O’Corry-Crowe, G., Rojas-Bracho, L., Secchi, E.R., Slooten, E., Smith, B.D., Wang, J.Y. & Zhou, K. (2008) Orcaella heinsohni. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 18 March 2012.
Rodger, K., Smith, A., Newsome, D., Patterson, P. & Davis, C. (2010) A framework to guide the sustainability of wildlife tourism operations: examples of marine wildlife tourism in Western Australia. Cooperative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism. pp. 23-25.
Science Daily. (2004) Pacific Leatherback Turtle could go extinct tin 10 years. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/02/040226063928.htm
Stead, D.G. (1963) ‘Sharks and Rays of Australian Seas’ (Angus and Robertson, Sydney.) 278pp.
Stevens, J.D. (2007) Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) biology and ecology: A review of the primary literature. Fisheries Research. 84 pp. 4-9.
Thiele, D. (2010) Collision course: Snubfin dolhpin injuries in Roebuck Bay. World Wildlife Fund Australia.
Tubb, J.A. (1948) Whale sharks and Devil rays in North Borneo. Copeia 3, 222.
| 21.APPENDIX
Please place here any figures, tables or maps that you have referred to within your nomination. Alternatively, you can provide them as an attachment.
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Figure 1. Summary of dugong strandings and mortality by year and identified sources of mortality for Queensland, 1996-2010 (Biddle et al., 2011)
Figure 2. Actions to mitigate incidental mortality and monitor the boat strike of marine turtles (Marine Species Section, 2003).
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