1.1 Marine biodiversity and ecosystems Context Ornate Cowfish – Flinders Pier. J. Fin, Museum Victoria Victoria shares a unique marine environment with the rest of southern Australia. Mosaics of different habitats in intertidal areas and under the sea - including rocky reefs, sand and mud, seagrass and algal beds - support many different types of marine plants and animals. These habitats are connected by flowing seawater that carries a range of marine plants and animals at various life-history stages. The diversity of marine life such as seaweeds, sea mosses, worms, crabs and shrimps in southern Australia is as great as that of any comparable part of the world. Marine national parks and marine sanctuaries safeguard important marine habitats and species, significant natural features, cultural heritage and aesthetic values. Continued management of these areas is important. However we must also improve our focus on managing the rest of Victoria's marine environment. These waters have significant intrinsic biodiversity values, and also interact with the marine protected areas physically and ecologically. They support a variety of uses, including fishing, aquaculture, recreation, tourism and shipping, and deliver a range of ecosystem services which depend in many ways on their biodiversity. Threats from unsustainable use Many valued uses of the marine environment also threaten biodiversity, often through their effects on water quality. The threats vary along Victoria's coast, and can include input of nutrients, toxins, sediment, exotic species, physical changes to habitats and over use. Some threats stem from catchments or activities in local marine and estuarine areas, while others - such as marine pests - may be introduced by shipping and boating movements. While the importance of catchment-based threats to the bays is well-established, better understanding of their relative importance along Victoria's open coast would provide a clearer basis for refining catchment management priorities. Managing these threats is complex but crucial to protecting biodiversity and at the same time supporting sustainable use of resources. Multiple uses can result in a range of threats occurring in an area, which can have inter-related effects. Climate change Marine threats are likely to include a range of climate change implications in the future. Effects of inundation and storm surges are likely to focus in nearshore, particularly intertidal areas. Increases to seawater acidity may not allow some marine animals to produce shells and skeletons, and may affect biodiversity and fisheries. Changes to rainfall patterns may affect how catchment-derived nutrients, sediments and toxins are delivered to marine environments. Changes in seawater temperature may alter ocean currents, and could affect distributions of marine animals and plants. These are significant challenges, especially for the fisheries industry. More specific predictions about the vulnerability of Victoria's marine environment to climate change threats, advised by better scientific understanding, will be critical for preparing for and adapting to inevitable risks and impacts. We will need a coordinated approach to consider impacts of large-scale issues, such as changes to ocean currents.. Building scientific understanding We must continue to manage known threats to marine biodiversity, and the emerging threats associated with climate change, informed by the best available science. We need to build our understanding of how ecologically important marine communities vary naturally over time - and which ecological processes are responsible - so we can better predict their response to pressures arising from climate change, catchment activities and new developments. Sometimes we can use the best international science to inform Victorian management, but often we must develop additional understanding of how global knowledge must be modified for the Australian context, or even down to the scale of local sections of Victoria's coast. We also need to explore opportunities to strengthen coordination and information sharing. The Victorian Coastal Council's expert science panel is an important mechanism for providing independent advice about emerging scientific issues and information gaps relating to the coast. Community involvement Community support for, and contribution to, reducing threats to marine biodiversity is vital. The value of marine biodiversity is not necessarily well-appreciated by the wider community as it is generally out of sight under the sea surface. Engaging and enabling the community to work with government policy makers and marine scientists through education and good communication is essential. Coordination Coordinating marine management, planning and implementation is a priority to reduce conflicts in values, uses and approaches across government, industry sectors and community. Effective linkages between management frameworks for catchments, waterways, coastal and marine systems are crucial to effectively tackle cross-environment threats. As such, it is important to consider mechanisms to improve: leadership in marine management, planning and implementation collaboration between agencies and industry sectors integration in decision-making. Addressing these issues will require adequate ongoing resources as well as effective, informed prioritisation of approaches and tools. The approaches and tools we use need to reflect linkages between catchments and marine environments, but also capture the characteristics and complexities that are unique to marine ecosystems and their management. Policy 1. Protect, maintain and where appropriate improve marine ecological integrity by: reducing the impact of sea-based activities on marine ecological integrity, focussing where possible on preventing damage rather than attempting rehabilitation preventing the introduction of high risk marine pests and providing emergency response to eradicate new infestations as required minimising the need for dredging and ensuring that necessary dredging meets best practice avoiding potential impacts on water quality and biodiversity from industrial and extractive uses effectively responding to marine pollution incidents including oil spills minimising threats to marine protected areas by addressing outcomes of ongoing monitoring and risk assessments planning and managing use and development within coastal catchments which threaten the integrity of marine ecosystems 2. Understand and where feasible prepare adaptation responses for marine environments for the key risks and impacts of climate change. 3. Access current and best available emerging marine science, and build scientific understanding through effective, targeted research and monitoring programs. 4. Continually improve marine planning and management frameworks and tools. Actions Magnificent Ascidians – Beware Reef Marine Sanctuary Friends of Beware Reef a) Build the scientific understanding required to accurately predict the vulnerability of Victoria's marine ecosystems to climate change and identify options for marine ecosystems to prepare and adapt to climate change through national and Victorian approaches (DSE, DPI, EPA, VCC). b) Develop a marine biodiversity science and research strategy which informs Victoria's marine management. The strategy should consider funding options and opportunities and identify strategies to strengthen coordination with other relevant states. Improving strategic understanding of Western Port's ecological systems and threats should be a particular focus of this action (DSE, CCB, EPA, MW, PPWPCMA). c) Develop and implement a marine condition assessment framework and reporting approach that will inform monitoring approaches, supported by a scientific assessment of existing programs and future needs (DSE, EPA, DPI, PV, CMA). d) Improve Victoria's marine management, planning and institutional framework to address current and emerging challenges - such as climate change, marine parks and sanctuaries (comprehensiveness, adequacy and representation), and catchment-coast-sea integration - with the possible outcome of a marine strategy (DSE, DPI, EPA, PV). e) Develop a strategic framework to improve the prioritisation of management actions for marine assets such as biodiversity, fish habitats and key processes (DSE, DPI, PV, CMA). f) Update and improve Victoria's protocols for marine pest incursions, including a rapid response to new incursions, meeting obligations under a national system to prevent and manage marine pests), and supporting national best practice guidelines for managing biofouling across stakeholder groups (DSE, EPA, DPI, DOT)