

Pressures affecting the marine environment
Pressures affecting the marine environment
How climate variability across multiple timescales will be affected by climate change is poorly understood
Climate change - sea temperature
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. This thereby avoids repetition of content between sections of the SoE report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Ocean warming and extreme events will continue to significantly impact and stress marine ecosystems
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Sea level rise, increasing ocean temperatures and acidity are beginning to have significant impacts in all regions, and these effects are expected to increase. The worst affected areas are in the south-east and south-west, and are irreversibly and very seriously impacted. Changes in ocean current dynamics driven by climate change are also affecting these two regions
Topics
Climate change - ocean acidification
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011. It was reported on under State and trends and the component title has changed.
- Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. This thereby avoids repetition of content between sections of the SoE report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Ocean acidification will have widespread impacts across marine ecosystems. The state and trend is for open-ocean surface water only
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Acidification is a significant risk in all regions, although only limited evidence of change to date
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Climate change - ocean currents and eddies
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. This thereby avoids repetition of content between sections of the SoE report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
The boundary currents are highly variable as a result of changes in the large-scale ocean gyre circulation and major climate drivers
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Sea level rise, increasing ocean temperatures and acidity are beginning to have significant impacts in all regions, and these effects are expected to increase. The worst affected areas are in the south-east and south-west, and are irreversibly and very seriously impacted. Changes in ocean current dynamics driven by climate change are also affecting these two regions
Topics
Climate change - nutrient supply and cycling
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. This thereby avoids repetition of content between sections of the SoE report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Improved understanding of the relative role of key physical drivers and better understanding of recent trends is required for future projection assessments
Topics
Sea level rise, increasing ocean temperatures and acidity are beginning to have significant impacts in all regions, and these effects are expected to increase. The worst affected areas are in the south-east and south-west, and are irreversibly and very seriously impacted. Changes in ocean current dynamics driven by climate change are also affecting these two regions
Topics
Climate change - ocean salinity
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011. It was reported on under State and trends and the component title has changed.
- Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. This reflects the move of the assessment of Ocean salinity from the 2011 State and trend of physical and chemical processes section.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Spatially highly variable; mean surface salinity patterns have intensified during the past 50 years
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Significant changes evident in the south-east
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Climate change - dissolved oxygen and oxygen minimum zones
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. This reflects the move of the assessment of Low oxygen - dead zones from the 2011 State and trend of physical and chemical processes section.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Observed changes are few in open ocean environments and there are currently insufficient temporal data to assess trends. Based on model projections, dissolved oxygen is expected to decline
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Pressures resulting from climate change
Sea level rise, increasing ocean temperatures and acidity are beginning to have significant impacts in all regions, and these effects are expected to increase. The worst affected areas are in the south-east and south-west, and are irreversibly and very seriously impacted. Changes in ocean current dynamics driven by climate change are also affecting these two regions
Topics
Low oxygen - dead zones
Each region has one or more examples, and these have major or extreme local impacts, but limited regional consequences
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Commercial fishing
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011:
- The 2011 assessment has been divided into commercial and recreational components to support comprehensive assessment of the pressures, monitoring processes and management structures associated with each for the purposes of the report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.
Many pressures have been reduced through management. However, some significant pressures still exist for a number of target and bycatch species, and a number of species and habitats are not recovering from past pressures
Pressures are decreasing overall, although in the worst areas of the south-east, east and south-west, pressures are widespread and causing serious degradation, and the east continues to degrade
Recreational Fishing
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011:
- The 2011 assessment has been divided into commercial and recreational components to support comprehensive assessment of the pressures, monitoring processes and management structures associated with each for the purposes of the report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting cycles.
Pressure from recreational fishing is substantial for specific species and trends, but is variable across marine regions.
Pressures are decreasing overall, although in the worst areas of the south-east, east and south-west, pressures are widespread and causing serious degradation, and the east continues to degrade
Traditional use is generally considered localised and sustainable, but future effective monitoring is required for quantifying trend
These pressures are localised and stable
Marine oil and gas exploration and production
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- The assessment title has been revised to to maintain distinction between land and marine environments for the purposes of the report
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Pressures remain localised, with the greatest activity occurring in the North-west and South-east marine regions. Exploration activity in the Great Australian Bight is increasing
Most pressures are localised. The worst areas are in the south-east and north-west, but impacts remain minor overall. Pressures are expected to increase in the north-west.
Marine mining and industry
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- The assessment title has been revised to to maintain distinction between land and marine environments for the purposes of the report
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Sea-floor modification is localised. More regional environmental pressures are likely to be associated with disturbed sediments
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The worst areas, in the south-east and south-west, have suffered serious degradation
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Marine renewable energy generation
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- The assessment title has been revised to to maintain distinction between land and marine environments and other sources of energy generation such as oil and gas for the purposes of the report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Industry-scale deployments are sparse, with few quantitative data available for environmental pressures. Pressures are likely localised
These pressures are localised and stable
Marine vessel activity
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.
- The assessment title has been revised to support a comprehensive assessment of commercial and recreational marine vessels for the purposes of the report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Vessel activity is continuing to increase in all regions, resulting in a range of increased risks
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Pressures are increasing in all regions, resulting in declining conditions
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Monitoring is currently spatially and temporally limited, although data now exist to quantify noise. Pressures are mostly localised, although some sources can have large spatial and temporal footprints.
Topics
Increasing losses of debris into the marine environment are expected to continue, with a corresponding increase in marine fauna impacted, and associated socio-economic, environmental, navigation and hazard impacts.
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There are widespread pressures in all regions
Topics
Toxins, pesticides and herbicides
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011. It was reported on under State and trends.
- Toxins, pesticides, herbicides can be regarded as pressures impacting the marine environment. The assessment for Toxins, pesticides, herbicides has been moved to the Pressures affecting the marine environment section of the report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
Very little is known of levels of toxins, pesticides and herbicides outside coastal regions and the Great Barrier Reef. Impacts are assumed to be low.
Significant changes in the south-west and south-east
Dumped Wastes
This assessment summary component has changed from 2011. It was originally reported under State and trends.
- Dumped wastes can be regarded as pressures impacting the marine environment. The assessment for Dumped wastes has been moved to the Pressures affecting the marine environment section of the report.
The original 2011 summary, grade, trend and confidence levels have been replicated here to assist comparison of changes between reporting
cycles.
The state of coastal sea-floor habitats is good, although potential for cumulative impacts is increasing and these impacts are possibly evident in localised areas
Topics
Significant issues with dumped wastes in the east and south-east
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Assessment Summary Key
Grades
Very low impact
There are few or negligible impacts from this pressure, and accepted predictions indicate that future impacts on the environmental values of the region are likely to be negligible
Low impact
There are minor impacts from this pressure in some areas, and accepted projections indicate that future impacts on the marine environment are likely to occur, but will be localised
High impact
The current environmental impacts from this pressure are significantly affecting the values of the region, and projections indicate serious environmental degradation in the marine environment within 50 years if the pressure is not addressed
Very high impact
The current environmental impacts from this pressure are widespread, irreversibly affecting the marine environment, and projections indicate widespread and serious environmental degradation in the marine environment within 10 years if the pressure is not addressed
Recent Trends
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Improving
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Stable
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Deteriorating
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Unclear
Confidence
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Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
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Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
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Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
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Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
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Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment
Comparability
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Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
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Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
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Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
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Not previously assessed
Comments
Nil.