State and trends of quality of habitats

Coasts (2016)

State and trends of quality of habitats

Rocky shoreline

Data poor, but stressed by heatwaves, pollution, groundwater discharge, harvesting, trampling, sea level rise and foreshore development.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Rocky shoreline

2016

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

This assessment summary is the result of consultation with three or more independent subject-matter experts. Each expert was asked to provide scores for the state and trend of the topic, the confidence in their scores, and supporting information to explain their reasoning. Consensus scores were determined after considering responses from all experts in the light of supporting information, and in conjunction with other data sources where they were available.

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Land–water interface

Beaches and sand dunes

This component has changed from 2011.

This component has been moved from Marine environment to Coasts

Most beaches are in good condition but are threatened by debris, mechanical cleaning and compaction by 4-Wheel Drives. Sand dunes are heavily impacted by foreshore development, invasive species and historical practices of 'stabilisation'.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Beaches and sand dunes

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Land–water interface

South-west and north regions in very good condition

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Land–water interface

Mudflats and sandbars

Data poor, but the majority are in good condition when occurring at a distance from population centres.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Very limited

Confidence (in trend):

Very limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Mudflats and sandbars

2016

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Land–water interface

Lagoons

This component has changed from 2011.

'Gulfs, bays, estuaries, lagoons' has been moved from Marine environment to Coasts
'Gulfs, bays, estuaries, lagoons' has been split into 'Lagoons', 'Estuaries' and 'Bays'

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

Recent trends are unclear, but their condition is affected by coastal development, organic enrichment, recreational fishing and entrance modification.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Very limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Lagoons

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Coastal waterways

South-east, south-west and east regions heavily degraded in many places; north region in very good condition

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Coastal waterways

Estuaries

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

'Gulf, bays, estuaries and lagoons' has been moved from Marine environment to Coasts
'Gulf, bays, estuaries and lagoons' has been split into 'Lagoons', 'Estuaries' and 'Bays'

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

Approximately half are significantly impacted by historical and contemporary developments. Affected by pollution, hydrological modifications, the addition of artificial structures, dredging, shipping, invasive species and recreational and commercial fishing.

Year(s):

2016

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Estuaries

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Coastal waterways

South-east, south-west and east regions heavily degraded in many places; north region in very good condition

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Coastal waterways

Bays

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

'Gulf, bays, estuaries and lagoons' has been moved from Marine environment to Coasts
'Gulf, bays, estuaries and lagoons' has been split into 'Lagoons', 'Estuaries' and 'Bays'

The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.

Heavily used bays suffer from contamination issues, introduced species, increased physical disturbance, fishing and the addition of artificial structures.

Year(s):

2016

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Somewhat comparable

Bays

20162011

Coasts

State and trends

Approach/Process

Data/Information sources

Combined input from three or more independent experts (see Approach/Process above), together with the literature and data sources cited in the report text.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Coastal waterways

South-east, south-west and east regions heavily degraded in many places; north region in very good condition

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Coastal waterways

Assessment Summary Key

Grades

Very good

Human activities or declining environmental conditions have had no or only minor impacts on habitats, species/taxa groups, physical, biogeochemical, biological or ecological processes.

Good

Human activities or declining environmental conditions have had some significant impacts on habitats, species/taxa groups, physical, biogeochemical, biological or ecological processes, but effects are not persistent or substantial on overall habitats, species/taxa groups or processes.

Poor

Human activities or declining environmental conditions have caused substantial changes to habitats, species/taxa groups, physical, biogeochemical, biological or ecological processes, resulting in persistent and substantial effects on habitats, species groups or processes.

Very poor

Human activities or declining environmental conditions have caused widespread changes to habitats, species or processes resulting in loss of habitat, species/taxa groups and ecosystem functioning.

Recent Trends

Improving
Stable
Deteriorating
Unclear

Confidence

Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment

Comparability

Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
Not previously assessed

Clark GF, Johnston EL (2016). Coasts: State and trends of quality of habitats . In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/assessment-summary/coasts/state-and-trends-quality-habitats, DOI 10.4226/94/58b659bdc758b

The assessment summaries in State of the Environment reporting provide snapshots of key information, and focus on identifying areas for continued or more concentrated attention on strengthening environmental systems to cope with pressures in the future. Assessment summaries are provided for state and trend, pressures and management responses in each of the themes. The summary text in the assessment tables should be read in conjunction with the explanatory text in each section of the theme chapters.

The authors have indicated the strength of the evidence for assessments with a ‘level of confidence’. If adequate high-quality data were available or consensus was high, confidence is indicated as high. If there were only limited data or consensus to determine grades, confidence is indicated as low. Where data are insufficient to attempt scores, this is also indicated, and the component remains on the list to remind readers that it is still an important aspect of the Australian environment, and that more information is needed to improve our understanding and capacity to respond to environmental challenges.

State and trends of quality of habitats