Expand View Figure 31 Conceptual overview of the management strategy evaluation modelling process Source: Punt et al. (2016) For more information, go toManagement of specific pressures Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 32 Traditional Owner views about the proactiveness of government agencies in ensuring that environmental and sustainability reporting is informed by traditional knowledge and cultural indicators of change Source: Information was gathered during Traditional Owner online yarning circles run in April and May 2021 (n = 14). Download Go to data.gov For more information, go toManagement of specific pressures Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 32 Traditional Owner views about the proactiveness of government agencies in ensuring that environmental and sustainability reporting is informed by traditional knowledge and cultural indicators of change
Expand View Figure 33 (a) Anindilyakwa rangers beach patrol debris collection. (b) Senior Ranger Jocelyn Yantrrnga sorting marine debris. (c) Ute load of ghost nets and other debris with rangers. (d) Maicie Lalara from Anindilyakwa Arts with her monster fish pieces made from ghost nets For more information, go toManagement of specific pressures Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 33 (a) Anindilyakwa rangers beach patrol debris collection. (b) Senior Ranger Jocelyn Yantrrnga sorting marine debris. (c) Ute load of ghost nets and other debris with rangers. (d) Maicie Lalara from Anindilyakwa Arts with her monster fish pieces made from ghost nets
Assessments Links to wellbeing components Implication of outcome for wellbeing Component Assessed grade Assessed trend Assessed confidence Health Living standards Community and social cohesion Security and safety Freedom, rights, recognition and self-determination Cultural and spiritual fulfilment Connection to Country and nature Wellbeing state Wellbeing trend Wellbeing confidence State and trend of marine habitats and communities Good Stable Limited N N N Y N Y Y Positive Stable Limited State and trend of marine species Good Unclear Limited N Y Y Y N Y Y Positive Unclear Limited State and trend of marine ecosystem processes Good Stable Limited Y Y N Y N N N Positive Stable Limited Pressures on the marine environment associated with climate change and associated extremes Very high impact Deteriorating Adequate Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Very negative Deteriorating Adequate Pressures on the marine environment associated with population growth High impact Stable Adequate N Y N Y N N Y Negative Stable Adequate Pressures on the marine environment associated with industry Low impact Unclear Adequate N Y Y Y N N N Positive Unclear Limited Effective and sustainable management of the marine environment and resources Effective Improving Adequate Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Positive Improving Adequate Policy and management to support Indigenous leadership of adaptive management of Country Partially effective n/a n/a Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Negative Improving n/a Management of the marine environment and resources to support inclusiveness, equity and human wellbeing Partially effective n/a n/a Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Negative Improving n/a n/a = not applicable Note: Expert judgement was used to identify the wellbeing components with the strongest links to each outcome. Implications of outcomes for wellbeing match the assessed outcome grade translated to 4 categories, ranging from very negative to very positive. All outcomes are expected to have an overall positive association with human wellbeing. ‘Y’ indicates the wellbeing components that each outcome most affects; ‘N’ indicates no or less effect. For more information, go toOutlook and impacts Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Species Change in IUCN listing since 2016 Reference Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) Data Deficient to Near Threatened Cooke et al. (2018a) Australian humpback dolphin (Sousa sahulensis) Near Threatened to Vulnerable Parra et al. (2017) Australian snubfin dolphin (Orcaella heinsohni) Near Threatened to Vulnerable Parra et al. (2018) Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) Data Deficient to Least Concern Cooke & Brownell Jr (2018) Dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) Data Deficient to Least Concern Alafaro-Shiguieto et al. (2020) Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) Data Deficient to Least Concern Kiszka & Braulik (2020b) False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) Data Deficient to Near Threatened Baird (2019) Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Endangered to Vulnerable Cooke (2018b) Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) Data Deficient to Near Threatened Braulik et al. (2019) Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) Data Deficient to Least Concern Minton et al. (2018b) Pygmy killer whale (Feresa attenuata) Data Deficient to Least Concern Braulik (2018) Pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) Data Deficient to Least Concern Cooke (2018a) Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) Data Deficient to Least Concern Kiszka & Braulik (2020a) Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) Data Deficient to Least Concern Minton et al. (2018a) Spectacled porpoise (Phocoena dioptrica) Data Deficient to Least Concern Dellabianca et al. (2018) Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature For more information, go toMarine species Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Species Status Recent trend IOTC WCPFC CCSBT IOTCa WCPFCb CCSBT Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) Not overfished but subject to overfishing Not overfished and not subject to overfishing n/a Decreasing North-east: decreasing East: decreasing n/a Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) Not overfished but subject to overfishing Not overfished and not subject to overfishing n/a Decreasing North-east: stable East: stable n/a Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) Not overfished and not subject to overfishing Not overfished and not subject to overfishing n/a Stable North-east: decreasing n/a Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) n/a n/a Not overfished and not subject to overfishing n/a n/a Increasing Yellowfin tunac (Thunnus albacares) Overfished and subject to overfishing Not overfished and not subject to overfishing n/a Decreasing North-east: stable East: decreasing n/a Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) Not overfished and not subject to overfishing Not overfished and not subject to overfishing n/a Stable Stable n/a Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) Overfished and subject to overfishing Overfished and close to undergoing overfishing n/a Decreasing Largely stable n/a Blue marlind (Makaira nigricans) Overfished and subject to overfishing Not overfished and not subject to overfishing n/a Decreasing Increasing n/a Black marlin (Makaira indica) Uncertain Not assessed n/a Uncertain Not assessed n/a CCSBT = Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna; IOTC = Indian Ocean Tuna Commission; n/a = not applicable; WCPFC = Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission A number of models are used in stock assessments, so trends may vary across models. Trends are provided for statistical areas within the assessment relevant to the north-east and the Temperate East Marine Region. These statistical areas include regions outside the Australian exclusive economic zone. There may be multiple statistical areas encompassing marine regions, and trends may vary between statistical areas. Estimated biomass of yellowfin tuna, when considered under the Commonwealth Harvest Strategy Policy, identifies the species in the Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery as not overfished. The stock assessment for blue marlin in the Pacific Ocean encompasses the whole Pacific Ocean. Note: Status follows nomenclature used in Patterson et al. (2020) and is based on the most recent assessment conducted under the various regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), so recent trends may span periods less than or greater than the period since the 2016 state of the environment assessment. Assessment models and reference points used to determine status vary between species and RFMOs. As such, it is inappropriate to directly compare the status of stocks of the same species between RFMOs. Sources: International Scientific Committee Billfish Working Group (2016), Takeuchi et al. (2017), Tremblay-Boyer et al. (2018), Ducharme-Barth et al. (2019), IOTC (2019b), IOTC (2019a), Vincent et al. (2019), Ducharme-Barth et al. (2020), Hillary et al. (2020), IOTC (2020), Vincent et al. (2020) For more information, go toMarine species Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Species IOTCa WCPFC CCSBT Albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) Further declines are expected unless management action to reduce catches is taken Significant increases in effort would be required to increase fishing mortality n/a Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) If catches remain below maximum sustainable yield levels, reducing the population to an overfished state is unlikely If catches remain below maximum sustainable yield levels, reducing the population to an overfished state is unlikely n/a Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) If catches remain in accordance with the harvest control rule, reducing the population to an overfished state is unlikely If catches remain below maximum sustainable yield levels, reducing the population to an overfished state is unlikely n/a Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) n/a n/a Model projections indicate an increased (since the last assessment) probability that the stock rebuilding targets will be achieved by 2035 under the current management plan Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) Further declines are expected unless management action to reduce catches is taken If catches remain below maximum sustainable yield levels, reducing the population to an overfished state is unlikely n/a Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) If catches remain below maximum sustainable yield levels, reducing the population to an overfished state is unlikely If catches remain below maximum sustainable yield levels, reducing the population to an overfished state is unlikely n/a Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) Further declines are expected unless management action to reduce catches is taken Any increase in catches will lead to overfishing n/a Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) Further declines are expected unless management action to reduce catches is taken Any increase in catches will lead to overfishing n/a Black marlin (Makaira indica) Recent catch increases will likely continue to drive the population towards an overfished status n/a n/a CCSBT = Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna; IOTC = Indian Ocean Tuna Commission; n/a = not applicable; WCPFC = Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Harvest control rules are currently only determined for skipjack tuna within the IOTC; management procedures are being developed for bigeye and yellowfin tunas, and broadbill swordfish. An interim plan has been developed for rebuilding the yellowfin stock. Sources: International Scientific Committee Billfish Working Group (2016), Takeuchi et al. (2017), Tremblay-Boyer et al. (2018), Ducharme-Barth et al. (2019), IOTC (2019b), IOTC (2019a), Vincent et al. (2019), Ducharme-Barth et al. (2020), Hillary et al. (2020), IOTC (2020), Vincent et al. (2020) For more information, go toMarine species Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Species EPBC Act status Green (Chelonia mydas) Vulnerable Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Endangered Flatback (Natator depressus) Vulnerable Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) Vulnerable Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) Endangered Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) Endangered EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 For more information, go toMarine species Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Species / species group Current (2016–21) trends in Australian breeding population Main uncertainties and gaps in trend assessment Pressures/issues of importance Change in population trend since 2016 state of the environment report Changes in key threats and outlook Shy albatross (Thalassarche cauta) Stable Long-lived individuals require decadal-scale datasets Fisheries bycatch, climate change, disease, competition for nesting habitat No change Fisheries bycatch and disease impacts decreasing Petrels, shearwaters and storm petrels Increasing Some colonies of wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) Stable Little shearwater (Puffinus assimilis), soft-plumaged petrel (Pterodroma mollis), white-necked petrel (P. cervicalis), Herald petrel (P. heraldica), western Kermadec petrel (P. neglecta neglecta), providence petrel (P. solandri), Gould’s petrel (P. leucoptera), white-bellied storm petrel (Fregetta grallaria) Decreasing Short-tailed shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris), flesh-footed shearwater (Puffinus carneipes), some colonies of wedge-tailed shearwater Few long-term studies and limited spatial extent of available data. Long-lived individuals require decadal-scale datasets. Many colonies in Tasmania (stronghold for species) have not been surveyed in recent decades Cat and rat predation (shearwaters), fisheries bycatch, plastic ingestion, climate change Little shearwater, soft-plumaged petrel, white-necked petrel, Herald petrel, western Kermadec petrel, providence petrel, Gould’s petrel, white-bellied storm petrel now considered as stable. No change to other species in the group Fisheries bycatch impacts decreasing. Marine debris ingestion likely to increase. Declines in marine productivity from climate change (rising sea surface temperatures) likely Little penguin (Eudyptula minor) Stable? Limited long-term data for some colonies/sites. Many colonies in Tasmania (stronghold for species) have not been surveyed in recent decades Bycatch in gillnets, coastal infrastructure development and human recreational activities, climate change No change Threats associated with human development increasing, including habitat fragmentation and coastal erosion Frigatebirds, boobies, tropicbirds, gannets, cormorants and pelicans Increasing Australasian gannet (Morus serrator) Stable White-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), masked booby (Sula dactylatra) Decreasing Christmas Island frigatebird (Fregata andrewsi), Abbott’s booby (Papasula abbotti), red-tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) No trends identified Cormorants, pelicans Limited long-term data for some colonies/sites. Most species have little or no population data Bycatch in gillnets (cormorants), cat and rat predation (tropicbirds), habitat loss and fragmentation (gannets and boobies) White-tailed tropicbird, Christmas Island frigatebird, Abbott’s booby, masked booby now considered as stable. Red-tailed tropicbird now decreasing. No change to other species Declines in marine productivity from climate change (rising sea surface temperatures) likely Gulls, terns and noddies Increasing Kelp (Larus dominicanus) and silver (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) gulls; roseate (Sterna dougallii), crested (Thalasseus bergii), sooty (Onychoprion fuscatus), bridled (O. anaethetus) and white terns (Gygis alba); brown noddy (Anous stolidus) Stable? Little tern (Sternula albifrons), lesser noddy (Anous tenuirostris) Decreasing? Black noddy (Anous minutus) Decreasing Fairy tern (Sternula nereis) Limited long-term data for some colonies/sites; most species have little or no population data. Long-lived individuals require decadal-scale datasets Cat and rat predation (terns); human disturbance at nesting colonies (terns, noddies), which can lead to abandonment and disturbance-mediated predation by gulls and corvids; coastal development fragmenting habitat (terns); gull increases partly to wholly due to poor urban waste management practices, and opportunistic feeding at aquaculture facilities Little tern, lesser noddy now considered as potentially stable. No change to other species Increasing competition for breeding habitat as southward expansion of breeding populations of roseate, crested, sooty and bridled terns and brown noddy in Western Australia continues, and kelp gull populations increase in Victoria and Tasmania. Increased frequency of extreme events, storm surges, etc, likely to cause habitat loss/erosion For more information, go toMarine species Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Species group Extinct Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Conservation Dependent 2016 2021 2016 2021 2016 2021 2016 2021 2016 2021 Whales, dolphins, porpoises 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 2 0 0 Seals, fur seals, sea lions 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 1 0 0 Marine turtles 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 0 0 Sea snakes 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 Seabirds 0 0 2 2 10 12 24 22 0 0 Sharks, rays, chimaeras 0 0 2 2 2 2 6 6 3 4 Fishes 0 0 2 2 0 0 2 2 4 4 Seastars 0 0 0 1a 0 0 1 1 0 0 Corals 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Seaweeds 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Giant kelp forest community 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 The Derwent River seastar was not included in the marine environment chapter in 2016 because it was considered coastal. Sources: Species Profile and Threats Database (2021), Species Profile Threats Database (2021) For more information, go toNational and international policy and frameworks Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link