Issues

• Values: what do we need to sustain?
• Constraints
• SoE and Limits to Knowledge

• Atmosphere
• Land
• Inland Waters and Wetlands
• Biodiversity
• Settlements
• Cultural Heritage
• Coastal, Estuarine and Marine

• Response Instruments
• Summary of Report Recommendations
• Strategic Recommendations
• Conclusion

This sustainability review of the Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Chapter summarises the chapter content and provides an overview from a 'sustainability' perspective. A similar framework is used for all chapters within the 'Sustainability Review'. This provides a consistent way of comparing the major findings across the SoE Report within this final chapter. The 'Sustainability Review' provides the highest-level summary of each of the chapters. More detailed information is provided within each of the major theme chapters. Links are provided to the issue reports referred to in the 'conditions and trends' section below.

The content is organised under five major headings from a higher-level summary in the section entitled 'vision' to comparatively more detail in the section on 'conditions and trends' and 'what has been achieved'.

1. Objective: Presents an objective for the coastal, estuarine and marine environment in Tasmania.
    
2. Integrating concepts or indicators: Reports on any integrating concepts or indicators provided in the chapter.
    
3. Capacity to assess and measure: Reports on capacity to assess conditions and trends for this chapter theme.
    
4. Conditions and trends: Presents a summary of the key findings of the chapter, with links back to the related Issue Reports for further detail.
    
5. What has been achieved, 1998-2003: Presents a summary of key initiatives over the five year review period for the Second SoE Report.
    

Coastal, estuarine and marine objective

This reflects the vision established by Tasmania Together and the key findings of the Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Chapter. Applicable Tasmania Together standards under Goal 22 include: 'To maintain or improve natural heritage including biodiversity, geodiversity and landscape' (see also Tasmania Together Goals applicable to the Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Chapter).

The biological diversity and productivity of coastal, estuarine and marine environment is protected and enhanced through sustainable harvesting of marine resources, reduction of point and diffuse source discharges to receiving catchments and estuaries, management of marine pests and diseases, and minimisation of direct physical damage to the environment. Marine and estuarine protected areas are established to provide a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of reserves for Tasmania. Development is supported in appropriate locations, avoiding those areas that are vulnerable to inundation or have important conservation and scenic values.

Integrating concepts or indicators

Water quality is the integrator of the effects of our catchment management practices and the impacts of these on our estuaries and coastal zones. It is also a key indicator of sustainability. Accordingly, it is appropriate to report on water quality in coasts and estuaries as a key summarising concept. More detailed information is provided in the Water Quality in Tasmanian Estuaries Issue Report.

The Estuarine Health report for 22 estuaries (Murphy et al. 2003) reported that some estuaries in the north-east of Tasmania are susceptible to eutrophication (including algal blooms) based on high recorded levels of chlorophyll. Ansons Bay regularly recorded high to very high chlorophyll levels and the upstream sections of Little Musselroe estuary and Boobyalla Inlet were medium-high upon occasion. In other parts of the State, the Meredith, Browns and Don River estuaries also showed high to very high chlorophyll levels on some occasions. Catchment condition is one of the key determinants of estuarine condition. The study by Edgar (et al. 1999), noted that 24 of the 90 Tasmanian mainland catchments were considered pristine, with little human impact within the catchment. Other catchments had varying levels of impact from moderate to severe (see 'Unfavourable news').

Capacity to assess and measure

In the first SoE Report, the introduction to the Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Chapter noted that: 'A detailed assessment of the state of the marine environment is limited by the almost complete absence of baseline studies (past and present) by which changes from the existing state can be measured. In the five years since the previous SoE Report, baseline conditions have been established for estuarine water quality (Murphy et al. 2003) and assessments have been undertaken of estuarine condition, type and naturalness (Edgar et al. 1999). In 2000 a detailed and comprehensive sea floor habitat-mapping program-Seamap Tasmania-commenced. The first series of maps from this program reveal the extent of some habitats for the first time. The detailed monitoring of the Derwent estuary as part of the Derwent Estuary Program established in 1999.

Some researchers have been able to identify baseline conditions over a much longer period of time. Losses of shell (molluscan) species over the past 150 years in the shallow, sheltered estuarine waters of the south-east have been documented (Samson & Edgar 2001). While the ability to assess and measure the current situation and changes remains constrained by a limited and fragmented information base, significant improvements in understanding have occurred as a result of the work of these programs and initiatives.

Conditions and trends

Three broad topic areas are included in the Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Chapter: water quality, condition (ecological), harvesting and marine farming; and global change. Issues addressed within these broad topic headings are as follows: Water Quality in Tasmanian Estuaries; Algal Blooms; Discharges to Estuaries; Ecological Condition of Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Habitats; Threatened Species and Communities; Marine Pests and Diseases; Marine and Estuarine Protected Areas; Coastal Land Use Change; Wild Fisheries; Marine Farming; Adapting Coastal Settlements to Climate Change. Further information on these issues is provided in the More detailed information on these issues is provided in the Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Chapter.

Water Quality in Tasmanian Estuaries: Since 1996 there have been significant reductions in pollutant loads to the Derwent, particularly faecal bacteria (greater than 90%) and heavy metal loads (greater than 50%),and a decrease in total suspended solids loads (TSS) (17%). Many estuaries have a number of water quality issues stemming principally from catchment land uses and discharges from point sources. Key issues include heavy metal contamination, elevated nutrient concentrations, depressed dissolved oxygen levels, organically enriched sediments, and intermittent faecal contamination of recreational areas. Some major estuaries-such as the Huon-have, in general, very good water quality.

Discharges to Estuaries: Records show a decrease in many of the contaminant indicators in the Derwent estuary. There has been a sharp decrease in faecal bacterial loads (>90%) and heavy metal loads (>50%), and a decrease in TSS (17%). Trends since 1996 indicate a slight increase in nutrient loads being discharged into the Derwent estuary. The increase has been caused by increased discharges from Sewerage Treatement Plants and Waste Water Treatment Plants. An increase has occurred in discharged dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) (8%), total phosphorus (TP) (17%) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (15%). On the west coast, several mining facilities, such as Goldamere at Savage River, and the Renison Bell mine, are associated with discharge of contaminants to local waters. The principal concern is the Mount Lyell copper mine, which has a history of acid mine drainage and waste water discharge from mining operations that killed virtually all aquatic life in the King and Queen rivers. This situation continues today.

Algal Blooms: The Estuarine Health report for 22 estuaries (Murphy et al. 2003) reported that some estuaries in the north-east of Tasmania are susceptible to eutrophication (including algal blooms) based on high recorded levels of chlorophyll. Ansons Bay regularly recorded high to very high chlorophyll levels and the upstream sections of Little Musselroe estuary and Boobyalla Inlet were medium-high upon occasion. In other parts of the State, the Meredith, Browns and Don River estuaries also showed high to very high chlorophyll levels on some occasions.

Ecological Condition of Coastal, Estuarine and Marine Habitats: Measured improvements in marine habitat condition have been documented in the Maria Island Reserve-the largest of the marine reserves around Tasmania other than the Macquarie Island Reserve (Edgar & Barrett 1999). Statewide work measuring marine and coastal biodiversity through surveys of fishes, invertebrates and plants of reef habitats has been undertaken by Edgar et. al. (1997). In 2000 a detailed and comprehensive sea floor habitat-mapping program-Seamap Tasmania- commenced. The first series of maps from this program reveal the extent of some habitats for the first time.

Threatened Species and Communities: Currently, the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 lists three coastal, estuarine and marine animal species as extinct, 26 as endangered, 18 as vulnerable and 11 as rare. Eight species have shifted closer to extinction since the last SoE Report. There are 10 new coastal, estuarine and marine animal species listed as threatened under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 since the last SoE Report in 1997. However, the state of knowledge about Tasmania's threatened species including their habits, distribution, numbers and ecological relationships is poor.

Marine Pests and Diseases: Tasmania has a significant marine pest problem with 58 species such as the Northern Pacific seastar, the Japanese kelp, and the toxic dinoflagellate invading our waters. As an indication of the extent of the problem in Tasmania, authorities in Port Phillip Bay (Victoria) and New Zealand have declared that ballast water from Tasmanian ports is too high a risk. These ports do not allow ships to discharge ballast water originating from Tasmania in their waters. No indicators were included in the Issue Report.

Marine and Estuarine Protected Areas: In August 2000, a new marine protected area was declared around Macquarie Island, which is located in the Southern Ocean 1,500 km south-east of Tasmania. This reserve forms a part of the largest 'no take' marine reserve in the world, when included with the adjacent Australian Government reserve. It has increased the area of high-level marine protection in Tasmanian waters from 1,416 ha, or 0.06% of Tasmanian Coastal Waters to 82,888 ha, or 3.518% of Tasmanian Coastal Waters. Excluding Macquarie Island, however, Tasmania has only 1,416 ha (0.06%), or less than one thousandth, of coastal waters protected.

Wild Fisheries: While direct measures of the stock of wild fisheries are often difficult to obtain, regulations and licencing conditions indicate management intervention to provide for the sustainability of the resource. Present trends suggest that wild fisheries are in a healthy condition, however, this situation will only continue with continued protection of natural resources. Data on populations of non-commercial species is severely limited and the resource status for most scalefish fisheries is unknown. The status of 12 of the top 20 valued commercial fisheries in 1996-2000 was unknown.

Marine Farming: Marine farming is susceptible to a variety of environmental influences, including catchment condition, reduction of environmental flows, pollution of estuarine waters, and algal blooms. Marine farming has the potential to cause environmental harm if unregulated. There has been a 31% increase in the number of licenced marine farming leases in Marine Farm Development Plan areas between 1997 and 2001. Marine Farm Development Plan areas cover a total area of 466,111 ha, with 1.8% of this area being occupied by 185 marine farming leases (DPIWE unpublished data 2001). While there has been an overall increase in the number of leases, there has been a shift in the licensed species attached to the leases. An overall decline occurred in the number of species attached to licences, but there has also been an increase in the number of licences held for the two major species groups-Pacific Oysters and Atlantic Salmon.

Adapting Coastal Settlements to Climate Change: Scientists around the world are generally in agreement that over the last 100 years there have been a number of measurable changes to the planet's climate. The planet's coastal areas are projected to be influenced by a number of climate related changes, including: a higher sea-level, more frequent and more severe storm events, more frequent and more intense low-pressure systems, changes to short term climatic cycles such as El Nino/La Nina, and an increased number of high rainfall events likely to cause floods. Some of these impacts will be gradual while others will be sudden and extensive following major events such as storms. Changes can affect existing infrastructure and investment on the Tasmanian coast. Some 975 km (approximately 15%) of the coastline contains low-lying erodible shorelines potentially at risk of recession and flooding. A further 1,147 km (18%) contains low-lying shores mainly at risk of increased coastal flooding.

What has been achieved, 1998-2003

• Significant strategic and co-ordinated management is being achieved to protect the Derwent Estuary through the Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) established in 1999. In December 2001, the DEP Environmental Management Plan was finalised. A five-year agreement was signed to progressively implement this plan. The Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) introduced formal partnership agreements to monitor and report on the state of the Derwent and has helped implement priority projects such as effluent reuse, stormwater management and habitat management and restoration.
   
• Brighton and Bridgewater STPs have ceased discharging into the Derwent under normal operations and commenced a full effluent reuse program for the irrigation of specialist crops. Brighton Council has also initiated a program to capture and reuse stormwater (DPIWE 2000).
   
• The Huon Estuary Study (CSIRO 2000) conducted from 1996-99, provided environmental data for integrated catchment management and aquaculture.
   
• A study was conducted by the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) with funding under the National Land and Water Resources Audit to assess water quality in Tasmanian estuaries (Murphy et al. 2003).
   
• The Tasmanian Marine Protected Areas Strategy (DPIWE 2000 and DPIWE 2001) has been established to provide a comprehensive, adequate and representative marine protected area system. In July 2003, the Resource Planning and Development Commission submitted the final recommendations report to the Minister for new marine protected areas to be established at Port Davey/ Bathurst Channel in south-west Tasmania and at the Kent Group of Islands in Bass Strait.
   
• The eradication of feral cats from Macquarie Island has led to an improved outlook for nesting seabirds on the Island. Two years have passed since the last cat sighting, which is the period required for officially declaring the program a success. It took 30 years to achieve this result.
   
• A National Taskforce report has addressed the issue of introduced marine pests in Australia (SCC/SCFA 2000). This report, which was endorsed by three ministerial councils, makes recommendations for prevention and management of introduced marine pests. This has led to a more coordinated approach to the problem nationally. Mandatory ballast water regulations were introduced by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) in 2001.
   
• DPIWE has completed baseline port surveys of all first ports of call and other high risk ports/marinas in Tasmania to determine the distribution and abundance of introduced marine species. Education programs have been conducted to raise awareness, and to inform the public what boat owners, amateur aquarists and fishers can do to prevent the spread of marine pests.
   
• Improved understanding of reservation priorities has been achieved through the preparation of a comprehensive Statewide report on the type, condition and conservation significance of Tasmania's estuaries (Edgar et al. 1999). Information gathered included catchment extent, catchment geology, rainfall, size of the estuary, seaward barrier characteristics, tidal regime, salinity levels and biological data. The estuaries were classified into nine groups, or types.
   
• The Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI) Seamap Tasmania marine habitat mapping program is also enhancing the identification and selection of marine protected areas, as well as supporting other management decision-making. The Seamap Tasmania program produces maps showing the seabed in about nine categories of habitat type with supporting images and video. So far, the program has covered over 1,800 km including the entire Bruny IMCRA Bioregion, the Tasmanian portion of the Twofold IMCRA Bioregion and part of the Freycinet IMCRA Bioregion.
   
• Management plans have been introduced for all major fisheries, quota in the rock lobster fishery, and increased controls on gear usage in the scalefish fishery. Zonation in the abalone fishery has been introduced to manage the distribution of effort, and protect the accessible areas from high fishing pressure and over exploitation.
   
• Annual fishery stock assessment reports for major fisheries have been introduced and export fisheries are required to report against ecologically sustainable development principles. Tasmania has prepared reports for Environment Australia for both the abalone and rock lobster fisheries. The fishing industries have made progress by seeking accreditation for the export fisheries of Abalone, Rock Lobster and Giant Crab.
   
• To improve the sustainability of fishing, licence conditions for recreational fishing have been amended since 1996 in relation to gear restrictions, size limits, and bag limits. The National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey was undertaken as a joint initiative of Commonwealth and State Governments to obtain fisheries statistics to support the management of non-commercial fishing in Australia.
   
• Since the last SoE Report an environmental monitoring program has been implemented to monitor environmental conditions under and around finfish marine farms as specified in the Marine Farm Development plans and each individual licence.
   
• Work is being carried out by the State Emergency Service, in association with local government, to identify emergency risk management requirements for dealing with natural and other hazards. This program provides a useful model in dealing with vulnerability from climate change.