State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health

This assessment summary has changed since 2011

  • This assessment summary combines ecological processes, physical & chemical processes and pests, introduced species. diseases and algal blooms
State and trends of ecological processes
State and trends of physical and chemical processes
State and trends of pests, introduced species, diseases and algal blooms
State and trends of the national marine environment
Marine environment
State and trends
State and trends of indicators of marine ecosystem health: Ecologial processes
State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health
Component
Summary
Grade
Very poor Poor Good Very good
Confidence
In Grade In Trend
Comparability
To previous years

Water turbidity, transparency and colour

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The assessment title was revised to maintain distinction between coastal and marine environments for the purposes of the report.
  • This component was included in a different summary

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

Inshore water turbidity, transparency and colour
State and trends of physical and chemical processes

Relatively limited areas of naturally high turbidity are found in open-water regions

Year(s): 
2016
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Water turbidity, transparency and colour

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

Satellite-detected ocean colour data can be converted to a range of estimates of water transparency. This conversion followed the method developed by Morel et al., 2007. SD depth is computed from the corresponding merged CHL1 products (weighted method), using the following empirical equation: SD depth = 8.5 − 12.6y + 7.36y 2 − 1.43y 3 with y = log10(CHL1). The detection of trends should be robust to the rapid rate of technological improvements to sensors, improvements in spatial resolution and improvements in validation. The global use of these data and the ongoing technological improvements will make the approach used here better in the future.

The measurement of water transparency using Secchi disk depth has a very long history, is widely used across the planet and is very inexpensive (Tyler, 1968).

The combination of remote sensing and direct observations provides a powerful tool for the assessment environmental condition and status.

Average from about 2008 to 2014 (= state) and simple linear regressions fit to seasonally detrended in situ Secchi disk data from each NRS (= trend). Regional scale (10°S to 45°S and 105°E to 160°E) average for December 2015 (=state) and simple linear regression from 1997 to 2015 for December regional average (= trend).

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=67f99849-4bdc-4531-a69b-2022e9d03fb8.

Tyler, 1968

Tyler JE (1968). The Secchi disk. Limnology and Oceanography, 1-6.

Morel et al., 2007

Morel A, Huot Y, Gentili B, Werdell PJ, Hooker SB & Franz BA (2007). Examining the consistency of products derived from various ocean color sensors in open ocean (Case 1) waters in the perspective of a multi-sensor approach. Remote Sensing of Environment, 69-88.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Substantial changes to inshore water conditions and processes in the south-east

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Connectivity based on physical processes

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • Connectivity within the marine environment is predominantly driven by physical processes which influence spatial/physical disjunctions, biological, migration , flyways, recruitment, settlement, genome structures, genetic adaptation. The assessments were merged and the title revised to reflect the primary driver of connectivity in the marine environment and focus the assessment on an area where the most information is available.

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

Connectivity—biological, migration, flyways
Connectivity—genome structures, genetic adaptation
Connectivity—recruitment, settlement
Connectivity—spatial/physical disjunctions

Connectivity between regions is influenced by physical processes and is highly dynamic. Changes in physical processes associated with climate change are assumed to be impacting connectivity, with varying effects on marine populations.

Year(s): 
2016
0
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Low
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not comparable

Connectivity based on physical processes

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

Literature review. Data sources used include CSIRO for dispersal models (Bluelink – BRAN product), IMOS for ocean current data, report cards for connectivity indicators - http://ghhp.org.au/report-cards/2015/environmental.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=62a90ae7-00e3-471c-8dbe-fad4bf8eac6a.

Coleman et al. 2013

Coleman MA, Feng M, Roughan M, Cetina-Heredia P & Connell SD (2013). Temperate shelf water dispersal by Australian boundary currents: Implications for population connectivity. Limnology and Oceanography: Fluids and Environments, 295-309.

Curley et al. 2013

Curley BG, Jordan AR, Figueira WF & Valanzuela VC (2013). A review of the biology and ecology of key fishes targeted by coastal fisheries in south-east Australia: identifying critical knowledge gaps required to improve spatial management. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 435-458.

Feng et al. 2010

Feng M, McPhaden MJ & Lee T (2010). Decadal variability of the Pacific subtropical cells and their influence on the southeast Indian Ocean. Geophysical Research Letters 37:L09606, doi:10.1029/2010GL042796.

Frusher et al. 2014

Frusher SD, Hobday AJ, Jennings SM, Creighton C, D'€™Silva D, Haward M, Holbrook NJ, Nursey-Bray M, Pecl GT & van Putten EI (2014). The short history of research in a marine climate change hotspot: from anecdote to adaptation in south-east Australia. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 24:593-611.

Hock et al. 2014

Hock K, Wolff NH, Condie SA, Anthony KRN & Mumby PJ (2014). Connectivity networks reveal the risks of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks on the Great Barrier Reef. Journal of Applied Ecology 51:1188–1196.

Johnson et al. 2011

Johnson CR, Banks SC, Barrett NS, Cazzasus F, Dunstan PK, Edgar GJ, Frusher SD, Gardner C, Helidoniotis F, Hill KL, Holbrook NJ, Hosie GW, Last PR, Ling SC, Melbourne-Thomas J, Miller K, Pecl GT, Richardson AJ, Ridgway KR, Rintoul SR, Ritz DA, Ross DJ, Sanderson JC, Shepherd S, Slotwinski A, Swadling KM & Taw N (2011). Climate change cascades: shifts in oceanography, species’ ranges and marine community dynamics in eastern Tasmania. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 400:17–32.

Pearce & Feng 2007

Pearce A & Feng M (2007). Observations of warming on the Western Australian continental shelf. Marine and Freshwater Research, 914-920.

Ridgway 2007

Ridgway KR (2007). Long-term trend and decadal variability of the southward penetration of the East Australian Current.Geophysical Research Letters 34:L13613, doi:10.1029/2007GL030393.

Sun et al. 2012

Sun C, Feng M, Matear RJ, Chamberlain MA, Craig P, Ridgway KR & Schiller A (2012). Marine downscaling of a future climate scenario for Australian boundary currents. Journal of Climate 25:2947–2962.

Sunday et al. 2015

Sunday JM, Pecl GT, Frusher S, Hobday AJ, Hill N, Holbrook NJ, Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith R, Barrett N, Wernberg T, Watson R, Smale DA, Fulton EA, Slawinski D, Feng M, Radford BT, Thompson PA & Bates AE (2015). Species traits and climate velocity explain geographic range shifts in an ocean warming hotspot. Ecology Letters 18:944–953.

Tracey et al. 2012

Tracey SR, Hartmann K & Hobday AJ (2012). The effect of dispersal and temperature on the early life history of a temperate marine fish. Fisheries Oceanography, 21(5):336-€“347.

Vergés et al. 2014

Vergés, A., Steinberg, P. D., Hay, M. E., Poore, A. G., Campbell, A. H., Ballesteros, E., Heck, K. L., Booth, D. J., Coleman, M. A. & Feary, D. A.. 2014. The tropicalization of temperate marine ecosystems: climate-mediated changes in herbivory and community phase shifts. Proc. R. Soc. B, The Royal Society20140846.

Wernberg et al. 2013

Wernberg T, Smale DA, Tuya F, Thomsen MS, Langlois TJ, De Bettignies T, Bennett S & Rousseaux CS (2013). An extreme climatic event alters marine ecosystem structure in a global biodiversity hotspot. Nature Climate Change, 3:78-82.

Comments

​​In relation to the assessment grade of 'Not assessed, currently available data are not extensive enough to generate a definitive rating, although attempts were made to assess this pressure. The pressure could be better described as 'Unclear'—a rating not available to the authors.

Topics

Connectivity—biological, migration, flyways

South-east in poor condition and continues to decline

Year(s): 
2011
3
Deteriorating
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Connectivity—genome structures, genetic adaptation

Knowledge base very limited and condition hard to assess

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Connectivity—recruitment, settlement

Variable across the regions, improving in some and declining in others

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Connectivity—spatial/physical disjunctions

South-east has been significantly affected

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Trophic structures and relationships

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • This component was included in a different summary

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

State and trends of ecological processes

Current state is highly variable. Locations highly impacted by climate or cumulative pressures are poor, whereas other locations are stable and in good condition.

Year(s): 
2016
3
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Somewhat adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Trophic structures and relationships

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

A random effects model was used to look at trends through time using diet data from south-east and Western Australia as well as information published in peer-reviewed publications and reports.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=8338c8b8-5132-4673-89b5-85f00df2b772.

Bennett et al. 2015c

Bennett S, Wernberg T, Harvey ES, Santana-Garcon J & Saunders BJ (2015c). Tropical herbivores provide resilience to a climate-mediated phase shift on temperate reefs. Ecology Letters, 18(7):714-723.

Briceño et al. 2015

Briceño F, León R, Gardner C, Hobday AJ, André J, Frusher SD & Pecl GT (2015). Spatial variation in mortality by in-pot predation in the Tasmanian rock lobster fishery. Fisheries Oceanography, 25(S1):6-18.

Bruce 2014

Bruce B (2014). Shark futures: a synthesis of available data on Mako and Porbeagle sharks in Australasian waters: current status and future directions, Fisheries Research & Development Corporation.

Bulman 2002

Bulman C (2002). Trophic ecology and food web modelling of mid-slope demersal fishes off southern Tasmania, Australia, University of Tasmania.

Bulman et al. 2002

Bulman CM, Butler AJ, Condie SA, Ridgway KR, Koslow JA, He MX, Williams A, Bravington M, Stevens JD & Young JW (2002). A trophodynamic model for the Tasmanian seamounts marine reserve: links between pelagic and deepwater ecosystems, CSIRO Marine Research, Hobart, Tasmania, Commercial-in-confidence report for Environment Australia.

Bulman et al.

Bulman, C., Chiaradia, A., Kirkwood, R. and Dann, P., Modelling the marine ecosystem within the foraging zone of Phillip Island Little Penguins: report on the 2011/12 PINP Fellowship, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research & Research Department, Phillip Island.

Bulman et al. 2006

Bulman C, Condie S, Furlani D, Cahill M, Klaer N, Goldsworthy S & Knuckey I (2006). Trophic dynamics of the eastern shelf and slope of the South East Fishery: impacts of and on the fishery, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart, Tasmania, FRDC project no. 2002/028.

Bulman et al. 2012

Bulman CM, Condie SA, Neira FJ, Goldsworthy SD & Fulton EA (2012). The trophodynamics of small pelagic fishes in the southern Australian ecosystem and the implications for ecosystem modelling of southern temperate fisheries, final report 2008/023 to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Hobart.

AFMA 2010

AFMA (2010). Norfolk Island Inshore Fishery data summary 2006-€“2009, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Canberra.

Fletcher & Santoro 2015

Fletcher WJ & Santoro K (eds) (2015). Status reports of the fisheries and aquatic resources of Western Australia 2014/15: the state of the fisheries, Western Australian Department of Fisheries, Perth.

Flood et al. 2014

Flood M, Stobutzki I, Andrews J, Ashby C, Begg G, Fletcher R, Gardner C, Georgeson L, Hansen S, Hartmann K, Hone P, Horvat P, Maloney L, McDonald B, Moore A, Roelofs A, Sainsbury K, Saunders T, Smith T, Stewardson C, Stewart J & Wise B (eds) (2014). Status of key Australian fish stocks reports 2014, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra.

Ford & Gilmour 2013

Ford J & Gilmour P (2013) The state of recreational fishing in Victoria: a review of ecological sustainability and management options, Report to the Victorian National Parks Association, Melbourne.

Forrest 2008

Forrest R (2008). Simulation models for estimating productivity and trade-offs in the data-limited fisheries of New South Wales, Australia, UBD.

French et al. 2013

French B, Potter IC, Platell ME & Clarke K (2013) Determination of the diets of snapper and silver trevally and construction of a food web for the demersal fish community in south-western Australia, Final report for FRDC project no. 2009/006.

Fulton et al. 2005

Fulton EA, Fuller M, Smith ADM & Punt A (2005). Ecological indicators of the ecosystem effects of fishing: final report, report R99/1546, CSIRO, Hobart, & Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Canberra.

Fulton et al. 2012

Fulton E, Johnson P & Gorton R (2012). 2010/023€” Quantitative testing of fisheries management arrangements under climate change using Atlantis: Appendix 3. ) SE fisheries & climate simulations: barriers to adaptation. Australia: CSIRO.

Fulton & Gorton 2014

Fulton E & Gorton R (2014). Adaptive futures for SE Australian fisheries & aquaculture: climate adaptation simulations, Australia, CSIRO.

Georgeson et al. 2014

Georgeson L, Stobutzki I & Curtotti R (2014). Fishery status reports 2013-€“14, Canberra, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

Gillanders et al. 2015

Gillanders BM, Goldsworthy S, Prowse TAA, Doubell M, Middleton J, Rogers P, Tanner JE, Clisby NA, James C, Luick J, van Ruth P, Bradshaw CJA & Ward TM (2015). Spencer Gulf research initiative: Development of an ecosystem model for fisheries and aquaculture, Adelaide, University of Adelaide and SARDI Aquatic Sciences.

Giri & Hall 2015

Giri K & Hall K (2015). South Australian recreational fishing survey 2013/14, Fisheries Victoria Internal Report Series, no. 62, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Melbourne.

Goldsworthy et al. 2013

Goldsworthy SD, Page B, Rogers PJ, Bulman C, Wiebkin A, McLeay LJ, Einoder L, Baylis AMM, Braley M, Caines R, Daly K, Huveneers C, Peters K, Lowther AD & Ward TM (2013). Trophodynamics of the eastern Great Australian Bight ecosystem: ecological change associated with the growth of Australia’s largest fishery. Ecological Modelling, 38-57.

GBRMPA 2014

GBRMPA (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority) (2014a). Great Barrier Reef outlook report 2014, GBRMPA, Townsville.

Hobday et al. 2008

Hobday AJ, Poloczanska ES & Matear RJ (2008). Implications of climate change for Australian fisheries and aquaculture: a preliminary assessment, report to the Department of Climate Change, Canberra.

Hobday et al. 2009

Hobday, A. J., Griffiths, S. and Ward, T. 2009. Pelagic fishes and sharks. A marine climate change impacts and adaptation report card for Australia 2009. NCCARF.

Klaer 2005

Klaer N (2005). Changes in the structure of demersal fish communities of the south east Australian continental shelf from 1915 to 1961. PhD thesis, University of Canberra.

Last et al. 2011

Last PR, White WT, Gledhill DC, Hobday AJ, Brown R, Edgar GJ & Pecl GT (2011a). Long-term shifts in abundance and distribution of a temperate fish fauna: a response to climate change and fishing practices. Global Ecology & Biogeography, 20:58–72.

Loneragan et al. 2010

Loneragan NR, Babcock RC, Lozano-Montes H & Dambacher JM (2010). Evaluating how food webs and the fisheries they support are affected by fishing closures in Jurien Bay, temperate Western Australia, Final report for FRDC project 2006/038.

Lozano-Montes et al. 2011

Lozano-Montes HM, Loneragan NR, Babcock RC & Jackson K (2011). Using trophic flows and ecosystem structure to model the effects of fishing in the Jurien Bay Marine Park, temperate Western Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research, 421-431.

Lyle et al. 2014

Lyle JM, Stark KE & Tracey SR (2014). 2012–13 survey of recreational fishing in Tasmania, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania.

Johnson et al. 2010

Johnson, P., Bulman, C., Fulton, B. and Smith, T. 2010. MSC Low Trophic Level Project: South eastern Australian case study. Marine Stewardship Council Science Series, 111-170.

Moore & Mazur 2015

Moore A & Mazur K (2015). Small Pelagic Fishery. In: Patterson H, Georgeson L, Stobutzki I & Curtotti R (eds), Fishery status reports 2015, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra, 90–110.

Neira & Lyle 2011

Neira FJ & Lyle JM (2011). DEPM-based spawning biomass of Emmelichthys nitidus (Emmelichthyidae) to underpin a developing mid-water trawl fishery in south-eastern Australia. Fisheries Research, 110:236-243.

Neira et al. 2008

Neira FJ, Lyle JM, Ewing GP, Keane JP & Tracey SR (2008). Evaluation of egg production as a method of estimating spawning biomass of redbait off the east coast of Tasmania, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute, Hobart, Final report for FRDC project no. 2004/039.

Patterson et al. 2015

Patterson H, Georgeson L, Stobutzki I & Curtotti R (eds) (2015a). Fishery status reports 2015, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.

Ryan et al. 2015

Ryan KL, Hall NG, Lai EK, Smallwood CB, Taylor SM & Wise BS (2015). State-wide survey of boat-based recreational fishing in Western Australia 2013/14, Fisheries Research Report 268, Western Australian Department of Fisheries, Perth.

Ryan et al. 2013

Ryan KL, Wise BS, Hall NG, Pollock KH, Sulin EH & Gaughan DJ (2013). An integrated system to survey boat-based recreational fishing in Western Australia 2011/12, Western Australian Department of Fisheries, Fisheries research report no. 249.

Savina et al. 2008

Savina M, Fulton EA, Condie S, Forrest RE, Scandol JP & Astles K (2008). Ecologically sustainable development of the regional marine and estuarine resources of NSW: modelling of the NSW continental shelf ecosystem, CSIRO, Hobart.

Smith et al. 2011

Smith ADM, Brown CJ, Bulman CM, Fulton EA, Johnson P, Kaplan IC, Lozano-Montes H, Mackinson S, Marzloff M, Shannon LJ, Shin Y-J & Tam J (2011). Impacts of fishing low-trophic level species on marine ecosystems. Science 333:1147–1150.

Smith et al. 2015

Smith ADM, Ward TM, Hurtado F, Klaer N, Fulton E & Punt AE (2015). Review and update of harvest strategy settings for the Commonwealth Small Pelagic Fishery: single species and ecosystem considerations, final report 2013/028 to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, CSIRO, Hobart.

DAF 2016

DAF (2016). 2013/14 Statewide and Regional Recreational Fishing Survey key results [Online]. Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Available: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/fisheries/monitoring-our-fisheries/statewide-and-regional-recreational-fishing-survey.

Sunday et al. 2015

Sunday JM, Pecl GT, Frusher S, Hobday AJ, Hill N, Holbrook NJ, Edgar GJ, Stuart-Smith R, Barrett N, Wernberg T, Watson R, Smale DA, Fulton EA, Slawinski D, Feng M, Radford BT, Thompson PA & Bates AE (2015). Species traits and climate velocity explain geographic range shifts in an ocean warming hotspot. Ecology Letters 18:944–953.

Thomson et al. 2015

Thomson JA, Burkholder DA, Heithaus MR, Fourqurean JW, Fraser M, Statton J & Kendrick G (2015). Extreme temperatures, foundation species, and abrupt ecosystem change: an example from an iconic seagrass ecosystem. Global Change Biology, 1463-€“1474.

Virtue et al. 2011

Virtue P, Green C, Pethybridge H, Moltschaniwskyj N, Wotherspoon S & Jackson G (2011). Arrow squid: stock variability, fishing techniques, trophic linkages—facing the challenges, Fisheries Research & Development Corporation, FRDC final report 2006/12.

Ward et al. 2015a

Ward TM, Burnell O, Ivey A, Carroll J, Keane J, Lyle J & Sexton S (2015) Summer spawning patterns and preliminary daily egg production survey of jack mackerel and Australian sardine off the east coast, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide, Final report to FRDC project no. 2013/053.

Ward et al. 2015b

Ward TM, Whitten AR & Ivey AR (2015b). South Australian Sardine (Sardinops sagax) Fishery: Stock Assessment Report 2015, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide, SARDI research report series 877.

Watson et al. 2013

Watson RA, Nowara GB, Tracey SR, Fulton EA, Bulman CM, Edgar GJ, Barrett NS, Lyle JM, Frusher SD & Buxton C (2013). Ecosystem model of Tasmanian waters explores impacts of climate-change induced changes in primary productivity. Ecosystem model of Tasmanian waters explores impacts of climate-change induced changes in primary productivity, 115-129.

Wernberg et al. 2013

Wernberg T, Smale DA, Tuya F, Thomsen MS, Langlois TJ, De Bettignies T, Bennett S & Rousseaux CS (2013). An extreme climatic event alters marine ecosystem structure in a global biodiversity hotspot. Nature Climate Change, 3:78-82.

West et al. 2012

West LD, Lyle JM, Matthews SR, Stark KE & Steffe AS (2012). Survey of recreational fishing in the Northern Territory 2009–10, Fishery Report 109, Northern Territory Government, Darwin.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

South-west and north-west are in poor condition, substantially affected by historical and ongoing fishing

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Marine microbial communities and processes

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The assessment title was revised to support provision a comprehensive assessment for the marine environment.
  • This component was included in a different summary

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

Microbial processes
State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health

Methods for the assessment of communities have only recently become available and the development of baselines has only just started, so an assessment of status and trends is not possible.

Year(s): 
2016
0
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Low
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not comparable

Marine microbial communities and processes

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

An assessment of the information currently available.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=d799e6c4-da7c-46f6-a074-f1caf840ca8f.

Beman & Carolan 2013

Beman JM & Carolan MT (2013). Deoxygenation alters bacterial diversity and community composition in the ocean'€™s largest oxygen minimum zone. Nature Communications, 2705.

Brown et al. 2009

Brown MV, Philip GK, Bunge JA, Smith MC, Bissett A, Lauro FM, Fuhrman JA & Donachie SP (2009). Microbial community structure in the North Pacific Ocean. The ISME Journal, 1374-1386.

Brown et al. 2012

Brown MV, Lauro FM, DeMaere MZ, Muir L, Wilkins D, Thomas T, Riddle MJ, Fuhrman JE, Andrews-Pfannkoch C, Hoffman JM, McQuaid JB, Allen A, Rintoul SR & Cavicchiolia R (2012). Global biogeography of SAR11 marine bacteria. Molecular Systems Biology, 595.

Brown et al. 2014

Brown MV, Ostrowski M, Grzymski JJ & Lauro FM (2014). A trait based perspective on the biogeography of common and abundant marine bacterioplankton clades. Marine Genomics, 17-28.

Canfield et al. 2010

Canfield DE, Stewart FJ, Thamdrup B, De Brabandere L, Dalsgaard T, Delong EF, Revsbech NP & Ulloa O (2010). A cryptic sulfur cycle in oxygen-minimum-zone waters off the Chilean coast. Science, 330(6009):1375-1378.

Carlson et al. 2009

Carlson CA, Morris R, Parsons R, Treusch AH, Giovannoni SJ & Vergin K (2009). Seasonal dynamics of SAR11 populations in the euphotic and mesopelagic zones of the northwestern Sargasso Sea. ISMEJ, 283-295.

D’Souza et al. 2016

D'Souza NA, Subramaniam A, Juhl AR, Hafez M, Chekalyuk A, Phan S, Yan B, MacDonald IR, Weber SC & Montoya JP (2016). Elevated surface chlorophyll associated with natural oil seeps in the Gulf of Mexico. Nature Geosciences, 215-218.

Fuhrman et al. 2006

Fuhrman JA, Hewson I, Schwalbach MS, Steele JA, Brown MV & Naeem S (2006). Annually reoccurring bacterial communities are predictable from ocean conditions. PNAS, 13104-13109.

Giovanonni et al. 2006

Giovanonni SJ, Bibbs J, Cho MD & Stapels R (2006). Genome streamlining in a cosmopolitan marine bacterium. Science, 1242-1245.

Johnson et al. 2006

Johnson, Z. I., Zinser, E. R., Coe, A., McNulty, N. P., Woodward, E. M. and Chisholm, S. W. 2006. Niche partitioning among Prochlorococcus ecotypes along ocean-scale environmental gradients. Science, 1737-1740.

Kalvelage et al. 2015

Kalvelage T, Lavik G, Jensen MM, Revsbech NP, Löscher C, Schunck H, Desai DK, Hauss H, Kiko R, Holtappels M, LaRoche J, Schmitz RA, Graco MI & Kuypers MMM (2015). Aerobic microbial respiration in oceanic oxygen minimum zones. PLos ONE.

Kostka et al. 2011

Kostka JE, Prakash O, Overholt WA, Green SJ, Freyer G, Canion A, Delgardio J, Norton N, Hazen T & Huettel M (20110. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and the bacterial community response in the Gulf of Mexico beach sands impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 7962-7974.

Mazard et al. 2012

Mazard S, Ostrowski M, Partensky F & Scanlan DJ (2012). Multi-locus sequence analysis, taxonomic resolution and biogeography of marine Synechococcus. Environmental Microbiology, 372-386.

Seymour et al. 2012

Seymour JR, Doblin MA, Jeffries TC, Brown MV, Newton K, Ralph P, Baird M & Mitchell JG (2012). Contrasting microbial assemblages in adjacent water masses associated with the East Australian Current. Environmental Microbiology Reports, 548-555.

Ulloa et al. 2012

Ulloa O, Canfield DE, DeLong EF, Letelier RM & Stewart FJ (2012). Microbial oceanography of anoxic oxygen minimum zones. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 15996-16003.

Hobday et al. 2009

Hobday, A. J., Griffiths, S. and Ward, T. 2009. Pelagic fishes and sharks. A marine climate change impacts and adaptation report card for Australia 2009. NCCARF.

Comments

​​In relation to the assessment grade of 'Not assessed, currently available data are not extensive enough to generate a definitive rating, although attempts were made to assess this pressure. The pressure could be better described as 'Unclear'—a rating not available to the authors.

Topics

Knowledge base very limited and condition hard to assess

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Primary productivity

Trends are regionally variable and depend on the magnitude and timing of nutrient supply

Year(s): 
2016
3
Improving
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Primary productivity

2016
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

Linear regression fit to each pixel over the period from 1997 to 2015.

Data used in this assessment are computed from the level 3 (L3) daily global products using one merging method. PP was computed from merged monthly L3 products using the algorithms developed by Antoine and Morel, 1996. Details can be found at http://www.globcolour.info/products_description.html.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=cde30695-02bb-411c-9c31-cca7a425a39a.

Behrenfeld & Falkowski 1997

Behrenfeld MJ & Falkowski PG (1997). Photosynthetic rates derived from satellite-based chlorophyll concentration. Limnology and Oceanography, 42(1):1-20.

Cai 2006

Cai W (2006). Antarctic ozone depletion causes an intensification of the Southern Ocean supergyre circulation. Geophysical Research Letters, L03712.

Carranza & Gille 2015

Carranza MM & Gille ST (2015). Southern Ocean wind-driven entrainment enhances satellite chlorophyll-a through the summer. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 120(1):304-€“323.

Chavez et al. 2011

Chavez FP, Messié M & Pennington JT (2011). Marine primary production in relation to climate variability and change. Annual Review in Marine Science 3:227–260.

Condie & Dunn 2006

Condie SA & Dunn JR (2006). Seasonal characteristics of the surface mixed layer in the Australasian region: implications for primary production regimes and biogeography. Marine and Freshwater Research 57(6):569–590.

Durack & Wijffels 2010

Durack PJ & Wijffels SE (2010). Fifty-year trends in global ocean salinities and their relationship to broad-scale warming. Journal of Climate, 4342-€“4362.

Feng et al. 2013

Feng M, McPhaden MJ, Xie S & Hafner J (2013). La Niña forces unprecedented Leeuwin Current warming in 2011. Scientific reports, 3.

Furnas 2007

Furnas MJ (2007). Intra-seasonal and inter-annual variations in phytoplankton biomass, primary production and bacterial production at North West Cape, Western Australia: links to the 1997-1998 El Niño event. Continental Shelf Research, 27:958-980.

Furnas & Carpenter 2016

Furnas MJ & Carpenter EJ (2016). Completely over the top: Primary production in the tropical continental shelf seas bordering northern Australia. Continental Shelf Research.

Hill et al. 2011

Hill K, Rintoul SR, Ridgway KR & Oke PR (2011). Decadal changes in the South Pacific western boundary current system revealed in observations and ocean state estimates. Journal of Geophysical Research, C01009.

Kelly et al. 2015

Kelly P, Clementson L & Lyne V (2015). Decadal and seasonal changes in temperature, salinity, nitrate and chlorophyll in inshore and offshore waters along southeast Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 120:4226-4244.

Matear et al. 2015

Matear RJ, Chamberlain MA, Sun C & Feng M (2015). Climate change projection for the western tropical Pacific Ocean using a high-resolution ocean model: implications for tuna fisheries. Deep-Sea Research II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 113:22–46.

McGillicuddy et al. 1998

McGillicuddy DJ, Robinson AR, Siegel DA, Jannasch HW, Johnson R, Dickeys T, McNeil J, Michaels AF & Knap AH (1998). Influence of mesoscale eddies on new production in the Sargasso Sea. Nature, 394, 263-266.

McMahon 1982

McMahon TA (1982). Institution of Engineers, Australia, Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium, national conference publication no. 82/3.

Mongin et al. 2016

Mongin M, Baird ME, Tilbrook B, Matear RJ, Lenton A, Herzfeld M, Wild-Allen K, Skerratt J, Margvelashvili N, Robson BJ, Duarte CM, Gustafsson MSM, Ralph PJ & Steven ADL (2016). The exposure of the Great Barrier Reef to ocean acidification.Nature Communications 7:article 10732, doi:10.1038/ncomms10732D

Oliver & Holbrook 2014

Oliver E & Holbrook N (2014). Extending our understanding of South Pacific gyre "spin-€up"€: Modeling the East Australian Current in a future climate. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 119:2788-2805.

Rousseaux et al. 2012

Rousseaux CSG, Lowe R, Feng M, Waite AM & Thompson PA (2012). The role of the Leeuwin Current and mixed layer depth on the autumn phytoplankton bloom off Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Continental Shelf Research.

Siegel et al. 2013

Siegel DA, Behrenfeld MJ, Maritorena S, McClain CR, Anoine D, Bailey SW, Botempi PS, Boss ES, Dierssen HM, Doney SC, Eplee Jr RE, Evens RH, Feldman GC, Fields E, Franz BA, Kuring NA, Mengelt C, Nelson NB, Patt FS, Robinson WD, Sarmento JL, Swan CM, Werdell PJ, Westbury TK, Wilding JG & Yoder JA (2013). Regional to global assessments of phytoplankton dynamics from the SeaWiFS mission. Remote Sensing of Environment 135:77–91.

Signorini et al. 2015

Signorini SR, Franz BB & McClain CR (2015). Chlorophyll variability in the oligotrophic gyres: mechanisms, seasonality and trends. Frontiers in Marine Science.

Thompson et al. 2015

Thompson PA, Bonham P, Rochester W, Doblin MA, Waite AM, Richardson A & Rousseaux C (2015a). Climate variability drives plankton community composition changes: an El Niño to La Niña transition around Australia. Journal of Plankton Research 37(5):966–984.

Thompson et al. 2011

Thompson PA, Bonham P, Waite AM, Clementson LA, Cherukuru N & Doblin MA (2011). Contrasting oceanographic conditions and phytoplankton communities on the east and west coasts of Australia. Deep Sea Research II, 645-663.

Thompson et al. 2016

Thompson PA, O’Brien TD, Lorenzoni L, Richardson AJ & Chavez F (2016). The South Pacific Ocean. In: O’Brien TD, Isensee K, Lorenzoni L & Valdés JL (eds), What are marine ecological timeseries telling us about the ocean? A status report, IOC Technical Series, no. 129, IOC-UNESCO, Paris.

van Ruth et al. 2010a

van Ruth PD, Ganf GG & Ward TM (2010). Hot-spots of primary productivity: an alternative interpretation to conventional upwelling models. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 90:142-158.

van Ruth et al. 2010b

van Ruth, P. D., Ganf, G. G. and Ward, T. M. 2010. The influence of mixing on primary productivity: a unique application of classical critical depth theory. Progress in Oceanography, 85, 224-235.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Secondary Productivity

Grade and trends based on inshore and offshore areas in all marine regions

Year(s): 
2016
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Secondary Productivity

2016
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

Time series of means and standard errors and trends of zooplankton biomass from National Reference Stations and the Australian Continuous Plankton Recorder survey.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=439b743e-d212-4398-a068-7a6b6da02a0d.

Richardson et al., 2015

Richardson AJ, Eriksen RS & Rochester W (2015). Plankton 2015: state of Australia’s oceans, CSIRO, Hobart.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Benthic Productivity

This component was included in a different summary

State and trends of ecological processes

Unable to be assessed at a regional or national scale because of a lack of data

Year(s): 
2016
0
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Low
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not comparable

Benthic Productivity

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Data/Information sources

 

 

Comments

​​In relation to the assessment grade of 'Not assessed, currently available data are not extensive enough to generate a definitive rating, although attempts were made to assess this pressure. The pressure could be better described as 'Unclear'—a rating not available to the authors.

Topics

Good to very good in all regions

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Herbivory processes

This component was included in a different summary

State and trends of ecological processes

Unable to be assessed at a regional or national scale because of a lack of data

Year(s): 
2016
0
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Low
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not comparable

Herbivory processes

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Data/Information sources

 

 

Comments

​​In relation to the assessment grade of 'Not assessed, currently available data are not extensive enough to generate a definitive rating, although attempts were made to assess this pressure. The pressure could be better described as 'Unclear'—a rating not available to the authors.

Topics

Declines observed in the east

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Viral diseases, parasitic infestations, mass die-offs

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The assessment title has been re-worded to support provision a comprehensive assessment for the marine environment.
  • This component is now included in a different summary

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

Virus diseases, parasitic infestations, fish kills
State and trends of pests, introduced species, diseases and algal blooms

No major disease outbreaks outside of coastal areas have occurred. National conditions remain stable.

Year(s): 
2016
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Viral diseases, parasitic infestations, mass die-offs

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

Desktop assessment of reporting data during the period from 2011 to 2016.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=12754fd2-13ac-45e5-9da6-e9ac42ab3dc5.

Data/Information sources

Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia–Pacific, quarterly aquatic animal disease reports (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), www.enaca.org/modules/library/publication.php?tag_id=279&label_type=1&title=quarterly-aquatic-animal-disease-report

Animal Health in Australia, annual reports (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/our-publication
s/animal-health-in-australia-report/

 

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

A major disease outbreak has occurred, and condition in the south-east region is poor

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Algal blooms, jellyfish blooms

This component was included in a different summary

State and trends of pests, introduced species, diseases and algal blooms

Assessment based on a limited number of sites in each marine region. Trends in jellyfish blooms likely increasing.

Year(s): 
2016
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Algal blooms, jellyfish blooms

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

Time series and trends of mean abundance of two key HAB species from the National Reference Stations. Map of HAB blooms from the Australian Continuous Plankton Recorder Survey.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=7504b270-9de3-4a41-b615-995b658f0c08

Richardson et al., 2015

Richardson AJ, Eriksen RS & Rochester W (2015). Plankton 2015: state of Australia’s oceans, CSIRO, Hobart.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Blooms of algae and other species occur regularly, and condition in the south-east region is poor

Year(s): 
2011
4
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Crown-of-thorns starfish

This assessment summary component has changed from 2011.

  • The assessment title has been reworded to reflect scientific use. 
  • This component was included in a different summary

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

State and trends of pests, introduced species, diseases and algal blooms

Outbreaks have been highly cyclical in the past 50 years, but long-term trends are unclear. Outbreak populations are higher in the north-east than in the north-west.

Year(s): 
2016
2
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Adequate
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Somewhat comparable

Crown-of-thorns starfish

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

Expert assessment based on information in peer-reviewed literature and unpublished reports.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=40b9813d-59c5-4ac6-a72d-984a09e66fb7.

De'ath et al. 2012

De’ath G, Fabricius KE, Sweatman H & Puotinen M (2012). The 27-year decline of coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef and its causes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 109(44):17995–17999.

Doherty et al. 2015

Doherty PJ, Coleman GJ, Logan M & MacNeil MA (2015). Estimates of the abundance of the spawning stock of crown-of-thorns starfish on the northern Great Barrier Reef in 2013-14 and reflections on the effectiveness of starfish control, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Unpublished report for the Department of the Environment, Australian Government.

Fabricius et al. 2010

Fabricius KE, Okaji K & De’ath G (2010). Three lines of evidence to link outbreaks of the crown-of-thorns seastar Acanthaster planci to the release of larval food limitation. Coral Reefs 29:593–605.

Pratchett et al. 2014

Pratchett MS, Caballes C, Rivera-Posada JA & Sweatman HPA (2014). Limits to understanding and managing outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster spp). Oceanography and Marine Biology: an Annual Review, 133-200.

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Occurs regularly across the east region, and condition there is poor

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Adequate
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Number and abundance of NIMPIS listed species

This component was included in a different summary

State and trends of pests, introduced species, diseases and algal blooms

Significant changes in the distribution and impacts of NIMPIS-listed pests have not been reported

Year(s): 
2016
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Comparable

Number and abundance of NIMPIS listed species

2016
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

There are currently no systemic surveys to determine the abundance of NIMPIS pests. Identification of state is therefore based on reporting rates of NIMPIS-listed pests' presence only.

This assessment is based on peer-reviewed papers and reports, as well as information on the Marine Pests website: http://www.marinepests.gov.au.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=3ce632d9-7c37-4d46-96bc-e09b9386ba07.

Data/Information sources

See www.marinepests.gov.au for relevant publications.

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Condition in the south-east region is poor and declining

Year(s): 
2011
3
Stable
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Limited
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Number and abundance of introduced species

This component was included in a different summary

State and trends of pests, introduced species, diseases and algal blooms

The number of introduced pests has increased over time, but information about their abundance (and any changes in this) is lacking and associated impacts are highly uncertain

Year(s): 
2016
3
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Comparable

Number and abundance of introduced species

20162011
Marine environment
State and trends

Approach/Process

There are currently no systemic surveys to determine the abundance of introduced pests. Identification of state is therefore based on reporting rates of introduced pest species' presence only.

This assessment is based on peer-reviewed papers and reports, as well as information on the Marine Pests website: http://www.marinepests.gov.au.

Further information on the assessment process can be accessed through the Australian Ocean Data Network SoE Metadata catalogue at http://catalogue.aodn.org.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=08eb9abd-85de-41ef-ba93-a9486034a861.

Data/Information sources

See www.marinepests.gov.au for relevant publications

 

Comments

Nil.

Topics

Number of introduced species is high, possibly increasing, but their impacts and trends are unknown

Year(s): 
2011
4
Unclear
Confidence (in grade): 
Limited
Confidence (in trend): 
Low
Comparability (to previous reports): 
Not assessed

Topics

Assessment Summary Key

Grades

Very good

Very few, if any changes in physical, chemical and biological processes have occurred a result of human activities or declining environmental conditions

Good

Some changes in physical, chemical and biological processes have occurred a result of human activities or declining environmental conditions in some areas, but these are not significantly affecting ecosystem functions

Poor

Substantial changes in physical, chemical or biological processes have occurred a result of human activities or declining environmental conditions and these are significantly affecting ecosystem functions in some areas

Very poor

Substantial changes in physical, chemical and biological processes have occurred a result of human activities or declining environmental conditions and these are significantly affecting ecosystem functions across widespread areas

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

Evans K, Bax NJ, Smith DC (2016). Marine environment: State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health . In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/assessment-summary/marine-environment/state-and-trends-indicators-marine-ecosystem-health, DOI 10.4226/94/58b657ea7c296