Key findings

Coasts

The current state of the coastal environment is mixed, being largely good in the north-west and far north-east of the country, and poor in parts of the east, south-east and south-west

Direct impacts are centred on urban and agricultural developments, which are predominantly on the east, south-east and south-west coasts of Australia. Other parts, such as the north-west, are less heavily modified, but may be threatened by development plans and are currently subject to localised pressures associated with resource extraction. In the long term, the entire coast is under threat from climate change.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Given the likelihood of major climate-related stress during the coming decades, environmental areas that are already under high pressure are likely to become further degraded

Australia is beginning to see the impact of the pressures of climate change on our coasts, and pressures are expected to grow substantially in coming decades. These will add stress to systems that are already stressed by a range of human activities. Recent climate-related stress resulted in a major dieback of mangroves in the north.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

The current state of degradation is tightly correlated with human population, and agricultural or industrial development

Pressures and impacts on the coastal environment are associated with urbanisation, land-use change and industrial activity. Increasing activity on the coast means that pressures are growing in most areas.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Many coastal systems and processes are subject to multiple interacting pressures, which are predicted to act in additive or synergistic ways that increase impacts

When multiple pressures occur at the same place and time, there is potential for them to interact and exacerbate impacts. Such is the case in areas of the coast with dense human settlement, agriculture or industry.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Pressures occur at a variety of spatial and temporal scales

Some activities create pressures that are widespread and can have medium-term to long-term impacts (e.g. coastal agriculture and climate change). Other activities are more localised, but may severely affect local processes (e.g. spills and port development).

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Species and ecological groups are variable in recent trends, with the most concern being for shorebirds

Nationally, there are currently 1257 floral and 425 faunal species listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, many of which occur on the coast. Several protected species are now stable or improving, demonstrating the benefits of good management. Crocodiles, for example, are increasing everywhere within their natural range, and mangroves have been increasing in extent in most parts of Australia. In contrast, migratory shorebirds are deteriorating, despite protection in Australia, likely because of the destruction of critical habitat in other countries along their migratory route. Continued decline of saltmarsh and seagrass habitats is a significant concern, given their role in coastal productivity, biodiversity maintenance, sediment stabilisation and carbon sequestration.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Data are insufficient to assess many aspects of the state of the environment of the coast

Data deficiencies are particularly clear for biodiversity, and the population density of most species groups. Data deficiencies increase with decreasing size of organisms, regardless of their importance to ecosystem services (e.g. there are major data deficiencies for invertebrates and microbes). Data are also deficient for the pressures of contaminants, invasive species, recreational fishing and marine debris. The ongoing issue of data deficiency stems from a lack of investment in broad spatial-scale and temporal-scale projects featuring rigorous and consistent methodologies, collaboration and sharing of information between organisations, and publication of findings in the scientific literature.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

There is a need for comprehensive monitoring of coastal systems, processes and effectiveness of management practices

Although there are many experts on the Australian coastal environment, almost none are confident to make assessments for the entire coast. This reflects the absence of nationally consistent, or coordinated, environmental health assessments for the coast. It also speaks to the diversity of Australia’s coast, and the inherent differences between processes operating in tropical and temperate regions.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Coastal heritage documentation focuses on European settlement, rather than with Indigenous culture

With coastal settlement comes a rich heritage of Indigenous and European history and culture that has yet to be fully documented or understood. Pressures on coastal environments also affect coastal heritage, and there are substantial gaps in our understanding of the extent and cultural meaning of many coastal heritage sites and activities. Information on coastal heritage is largely restricted to shipwrecks, middens and heritage buildings, and could be complemented by national programs to document and assess other sacred sites, and sites for cultural gatherings and fishing.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Remote sensing offers an increasingly powerful way to gather data about coastal environments

Satellite data have been used for the first time to assess trajectories of estuarine water quality and coastal vegetation change across the entire coast of Australia. These approaches use the newly developed Australian Geoscience Data Cube (a national collation of Landsat imagery) to assess trends in coastal environments across multiple decades.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Integrated management and better understanding of the cumulative impacts of multiple uses are key to improving coastal management

Management effectiveness could improve with a move towards integrated management that can simultaneously assess and mitigate the impacts of multiple activities and pressures. This would also be likely to reduce human-use conflict on the coast.

2016

Relates to

Coasts

Clark GF, Johnston EL (2016). Coasts: Key findings. In: Australia state of the environment 2016, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/theme/coasts/key-findings, DOI 10.4226/94/58b659bdc758b

Australia State of the Environment Report

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Key findings

The current state of the coastal environment is mixed, being largely good in the north-west and far north-east of the country, and poor in parts of the east, south-east and south-west

Given the likelihood of major climate-related stress during the coming decades, environmental areas that are already under high pressure are likely to become further degraded

The current state of degradation is tightly correlated with human population, and agricultural or industrial development

Many coastal systems and processes are subject to multiple interacting pressures, which are predicted to act in additive or synergistic ways that increase impacts

Pressures occur at a variety of spatial and temporal scales

Species and ecological groups are variable in recent trends, with the most concern being for shorebirds

Data are insufficient to assess many aspects of the state of the environment of the coast

There is a need for comprehensive monitoring of coastal systems, processes and effectiveness of management practices

Coastal heritage documentation focuses on European settlement, rather than with Indigenous culture

Remote sensing offers an increasingly powerful way to gather data about coastal environments

Integrated management and better understanding of the cumulative impacts of multiple uses are key to improving coastal management

More information

Authors

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Acknowledgment of Country

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Key findings

The current state of the coastal environment is mixed, being largely good in the north-west and far north-east of the country, and poor in parts of the east, south-east and south-west

Given the likelihood of major climate-related stress during the coming decades, environmental areas that are already under high pressure are likely to become further degraded

The current state of degradation is tightly correlated with human population, and agricultural or industrial development

Many coastal systems and processes are subject to multiple interacting pressures, which are predicted to act in additive or synergistic ways that increase impacts

Pressures occur at a variety of spatial and temporal scales

Species and ecological groups are variable in recent trends, with the most concern being for shorebirds

Data are insufficient to assess many aspects of the state of the environment of the coast

There is a need for comprehensive monitoring of coastal systems, processes and effectiveness of management practices

Coastal heritage documentation focuses on European settlement, rather than with Indigenous culture

Remote sensing offers an increasingly powerful way to gather data about coastal environments

Integrated management and better understanding of the cumulative impacts of multiple uses are key to improving coastal management

More information

Authors

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Footer logo

Acknowledgment of Country

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