scholarly journals A systematic evaluation of the incremental protection of broad-scale habitats at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynnath E. Beckley ◽  
Amanda T. Lombard
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Systematic Evaluation ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning ◽  
Ningaloo Reef ◽  
Marine Park ◽  
Broad Scale

Incremental increases to marine conservation areas in response to changing goals, policy, threats or new information are common practice worldwide. Ningaloo Reef, in north-western Australia, is protected by the Ningaloo Marine Park (state waters), which was expanded incrementally in 2004 so that 34% of the park now comprises ‘no-take’ sanctuary zones. To test the hypothesis that all habitats (benthic cover types) at Ningaloo are actually protected at this 34% level, a systematic conservation planning exercise was conducted using existing broad-scale habitat data (as a surrogate for marine biodiversity) and C-Plan decision-support software. Although subtidal and intertidal coral communities were found to be adequately protected, other habitats, particularly those in deeper waters seaward of the reef, did not attain the 34% target. Efficient incremental additions to the sanctuary zones to allow increased representation of these under-represented habitats were explored with C-Plan. It is recommended that systematic conservation planning incorporating new biodiversity and social information (now becoming available) be undertaken for the next iteration of the Ningaloo Marine Park management plan. This analysis at Ningaloo Reef serves as a useful example of a post hoc systematic approach to guide incremental expansion of existing marine protected areas in other parts of the world.

Distribution and Abundance of Dugongs, Turtles, Dolphins and other Megafauna in Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Preen ◽  
H. Marsh ◽  
I. R. Lawler ◽  
R. I. T. Prince ◽  
R. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Large Population ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Shark Bay ◽  
Ningaloo Reef ◽  
Marine Park ◽  
Whale Sharks ◽  
Exmouth Gulf ◽  
Marine Megafauna

Strip-transect aerial surveys of Shark Bay, Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth Gulf were conducted during the winters of 1989 and 1994. These surveys were designed primarily to estimate the abundance and distribution of dugongs, although they also allowed sea turtles and dolphins, and, to a lesser extent, whales, manta rays and whale sharks to be surveyed. Shark Bay contains a large population of dugongs that is of international significance. Estimates of approximately 10000 dugongs resulted from both surveys. The density of dugongs is the highest recorded in Australia and the Middle East, where these surveys have been conducted. Exmouth Gulf and Ningaloo Reef are also important dugong habitats, each supporting in the order of 1000 dugongs. The estimated number of turtles in Shark Bay is comparable to the number in Exmouth Gulf plus Ningaloo Reef (7000–9000). The density of turtles in Ningaloo Reef and, to a lesser extent, Exmouth Gulf is exceptionally high compared with most other areas that have been surveyed by the same technique. Shark Bay supports a substantial population of bottlenose dolphins (2000–3000 minimum estimate). Exmouth Gulf and Ningaloo Reef were not significant habitats for dolphins during the winter surveys. Substantial numbers of whales (primarily humpbacks) and manta rays occur in northern and western Shark Bay in winter. Ningaloo Reef is an important area for whale sharks and manta rays in autumn and winter. The Shark Bay Marine Park excludes much of the winter habitats of the large vertebrate fauna of Shark Bay. In 1989 and 1994, more than half of all the dugongs were seen outside the Marine Park (57·4 and 50·7%, respectively). Approximately one-third to one-half of turtles and dolphins were seen outside the Marine Park (in 1989 and 1994 respectively: turtles, 43 and 27%; dolphins, 47 and 32%). Almost all the whales and most of the manta rays were seen outside the Marine Park. Expansion of the Shark Bay Marine Park, to bring it into alignment with the marine section of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area, would facilitate the appropriate management of these populations. This would also simplify the State– Commonwealth collaboration necessary to meet the obligations of World Heritage listing. The coastal waters of Western Australia north of the surveyed area (over 6000 km of coastline) are relatively poorly known and surveys of their marine megafauna are required for wise planning and management.

Could European marine conservation policy benefit from systematic conservation planning?

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 762-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvaine Giakoumi ◽  
Stelios Katsanevakis ◽  
Vassiliki Vassilopoulou ◽  
Panayotis Panayotidis ◽  
Stefanos Kavadas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Conservation Policy ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Systematic Conservation Planning

Infaunal biodiversity patterns from Carnarvon Shelf (Ningaloo Reef), Western Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Przeslawski ◽  
Matthew A. McArthur ◽  
Tara J. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Coral Reefs ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Marine Reserve ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Marine Management ◽  
Ningaloo Reef ◽  
Marine Park ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
Surrounding Areas

Infauna are important in many ecological processes but have been rarely considered in biodiversity assessments of coral reefs and surrounding areas. We surveyed infaunal assemblages and associated environmental factors (depth, seabed reflectance, sediment characteristics) in three areas (Mandu, Point Cloates, Gnaraloo) along the Carnarvon Shelf, Western Australia. This region supports Ningaloo Reef, a relatively pristine coral reef protected by the Ningaloo Marine Park and a Commonwealth marine reserve. Macrofauna were sampled with a Smith-McIntyre grab and sieved through 500 µm. A total of 423 species and 4036 individuals was recorded from 145 grabs, with infauna accounting for 67% of species and 78% of individuals. Rare species (≤2 individuals per species) represented 42% of the total assemblage. Assemblages were significantly different among all three areas, with the most distinct recorded from the southern-most area (Gnaraloo). Although assemblages varied significantly with depth and sediment composition (mud and gravel), these relationships were weak. Results from the current study broadly quantify macrofaunal diversity in the region and identify potential spatial and environmental patterns which will help inform future marine management plans, including the provision of baseline information to assess the efficacy of protected areas in soft-sediment habitats adjacent to coral reefs.

scholarly journals The use of connectivity in the design of networks of marine protected areas

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arieanna C Balbar ◽  
Anna Metaxas
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Population Connectivity ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Spatial Conservation Planning ◽  
Ecological Conservation

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an area-based conservation strategy commonly used to safeguard marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. Population connectivity governs the exchange of individuals among spatially fragmented habitats and is an essential criterion in the design of MPAs. However, detailed computational methods for connectivity are inconsistently applied in management decisions. We reviewed the scientific and management literature to explore the use of connectivity in MPAs located in countries with advanced marine spatial planning. Only 7.8% of 739 MPAs considered connectivity as an ecological criterion, although it has been increasingly used since 2007, suggesting progress in spatial conservation planning towards the use of ecological conservation objectives. In most cases, connectivity was measured implicitly using either rules of thumb or size and spacing guidelines. Of the MPAs that considered connectivity, 67% were for state marine conservation areas or reserves in California and commonwealth marine reserves in Australia. This pattern indicates substantial geographic biases and significant differences in conservation planning and prioritization among countries. We suggest that the incorporation of connectivity in conservation planning needs to become more accessible to practitioners. Prioritizing connectivity as an ecologically important criterion in MPA design will more adequately address metapopulation persistence and recovery.

scholarly journals Ensuring local stakeholder support for marine conservation: establishing a locally-managed marine area network in Aceh

Oryx ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 516-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Syakur ◽  
J. T. Wibowo ◽  
F. Firmansyah ◽  
I. Azam ◽  
M. Linkie
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Coastal Communities ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Marine Area ◽  
The Government ◽  
Marine Areas

AbstractMultidisciplinary approaches to managing seascapes are increasingly being recognized as best practice and therefore prioritized by conservation agencies. For most coastal areas the strengthening of customary marine tenure, rules and regulations should yield even greater biodiversity and livelihood benefits. Here, we present the conservation planning results from a locally-managed marine area programme initiated by the Government of Aceh, Indonesia, which aimed to empower coastal communities to sustainably and equitably manage marine resources with local government. In 2008 the government established a Marine and Fisheries Task Force to identify priority areas for marine biodiversity (through systematic conservation planning) and coastal communities (through participatory planning). In addition to the existing 264,788 ha of marine management units, systematic planning identified another 53,372 ha. However, the subsequent stakeholder participation phase, involving intensive local consultations, further expanded the locally-managed marine area network by 6,725 ha and to a total of 23 locally-managed marine areas. This combined approach had additional benefits because it generated a strong sense of local ownership. For communities it initiated a process for recognizing their customary claimed areas and resolved overlapping boundaries between neighbouring communities, thereby reducing the likelihood of future conflicts over natural resource use. For government, it provided the basis of a robust governance system, with 34 new or revised decrees being completed and an additional USD 1.6 million being allocated for implementation of locally-managed marine areas. This participatory approach should considerably increase the successful delivery of a sustainable and equitable locally-managed marine area network for Aceh, which has wide application for the South-east Asian region and beyond.

scholarly journals Manta ray tourism management, precautionary strategies for a growing industry: a case study from the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Venables ◽  
Frazer McGregor ◽  
Lesley Brain ◽  
Mike van Keulen
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Sustainable Operations ◽  
Marine Park ◽  
Manta Ray

Localised population declines and increased pressure from fisheries have prompted the promotion of manta ray interaction tourism as a non-consumptive, yet economically attractive, alternative to the unsustainable harvesting of these animals. Unfortunately, however, wildlife tourism activities have the potential to adversely impact focal species. In order to be sustainable, operations must be managed to mitigate negative impacts. A preliminary assessment of reef manta ray, Manta alfredi, behaviour identified short-term behavioural responses during a third of tourism interactions in the Ningaloo Marine Park, Western Australia. Although it remains unknown whether these responses translate to biologically significant impacts on the population as a whole, it is proposed that the precautionary principle be used to guide management intervention in the absence of conclusive evidence of the magnitude of tourism impacts. The principle supports the implementation of precautionary strategies to protect species and their environment from harm, even when the extent of the harm is yet to be confirmed. An increase in the level of industry management is recommended, including the implementation of a licensing system and adherence of all operators to a mandatory code of conduct during manta ray interactions. Considering the well designed and precautionary-driven management program of the Ningaloo whale shark tourism industry operating within the same marine park, a management program with the same underlying principles and objectives is deemed to be an ideal framework to build a comprehensive management plan for the manta ray interaction industry.

scholarly journals The use of connectivity in the design of networks of marine protected areas

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arieanna C Balbar ◽  
Anna Metaxas
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Marine Protected Areas ◽  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Population Connectivity ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Spatial Conservation Planning ◽  
Ecological Conservation

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an area-based conservation strategy commonly used to safeguard marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. Population connectivity governs the exchange of individuals among spatially fragmented habitats and is an essential criterion in the design of MPAs. However, detailed computational methods for connectivity are inconsistently applied in management decisions. We reviewed the scientific and management literature to explore the use of connectivity in MPAs located in countries with advanced marine spatial planning. Only 7.8% of 739 MPAs considered connectivity as an ecological criterion, although it has been increasingly used since 2007, suggesting progress in spatial conservation planning towards the use of ecological conservation objectives. In most cases, connectivity was measured implicitly using either rules of thumb or size and spacing guidelines. Of the MPAs that considered connectivity, 67% were for state marine conservation areas or reserves in California and commonwealth marine reserves in Australia. This pattern indicates substantial geographic biases and significant differences in conservation planning and prioritization among countries. We suggest that the incorporation of connectivity in conservation planning needs to become more accessible to practitioners. Prioritizing connectivity as an ecologically important criterion in MPA design will more adequately address metapopulation persistence and recovery.

scholarly journals Linking Habitat and Associated Abiotic Conditions to Predict Fish Hotspots Distribution Areas within La Paz Bay: Evaluating Marine Conservation Areas

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Urcádiz-Cázares ◽  
Víctor Hugo Cruz-Escalona ◽  
Mark S. Peterson ◽  
Rosalía Aguilar-Medrano ◽  
Emigdio Marín-Enríquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of California ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Marine Conservation ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Rocky Shores ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Niche Modelling ◽  
La Paz ◽  
Abiotic Conditions ◽  
Presence Data

Hotspots are priority marine or terrestrial areas with high biodiversity where delineation is essential for conservation, but equally important is their linkage to the environmental policies of the overall region. In this study, fish diversity presences were linked to abiotic conditions and different habitat types to reveal multi-species and hotspots models predicted by ecological niche modelling methods within the Bay of La Paz, Mexico (south of Gulf of California). The abiotically suitable areas for 217 fish species were identified based on historical (1975–2020) presence data sets and a set of environmental layers related to distances from mangroves and rocky shores habitats, marine substrate, and bottom geomorphology conditions. Hotspot model distribution was delineated from a multi-species model identifying areas with ≥60 species per hectare and was compared to the marine conservation areas such Balandra Protected Natural Area (BPNA), illustrating how these models can be applied to improve the local regulatory framework. The results indicate that (1) there is a need for the BPNA to be enlarged to capture more of the delineated hotspot areas, and thus an update to the management plan will be required, (2) new conservation areas either adjacent or outside of the established BPNA should be established, or (3) Ramsar sites or other priority areas should be subject to legal recognition and a management plan decreed so that these vital habitats and fish diversity can be better protected.

Incorporating putatively neutral and adaptive genomic data into marine conservation planning

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Xuereb ◽  
Cassidy C. D'Aloia ◽  
Marco Andrello ◽  
Louis Bernatchez ◽  
Marie‐Josée Fortin
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Planning ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Marine Conservation
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