Concepts of EBM University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Richard Kenchington, Visiting Professor, Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security, University of Wollongong June 2007

This Presentation University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Nature of marine ecosystems review Management visions and sectoral roles Ecosystem services Costs of management failure Management tools

The Nature of Marine Environments ) University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Types of biological community Drifting - wholly planktonic Swimming migrating pelagic Territorial Fixed Seabed/water column interactions

The Nature of Marine Environments University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Multiple scales Fuzzy, variable boundaries Long recruitment and impact chains What happens on the land ends up in the sea

The Nature of Marine Environments University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security High natural resilience storms current changes volcanic, tectonic events High levels of redundancy in reproductive strategies

Insults to Marine Environments University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Resilience challenged by Taking things out Fishing, Collecting, Mining Putting things in Pollutants, alien species,“reclamation” Operational impacts of shipping, tourism

Management visions University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security 2 common elements Sustainability of biodiversity, ecosystem processes and natural values of healthy marine ecosystems Maximum sustainable income/employment/recreational enjoyment from healthy marine ecosystems

Elements of Management strategies University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Recognising the value of healthy marine ecosystem Educating reef users and residents Removing the insults Protecting biodiversity and ecosystem process Verifiably sustainable use of goods and services

Sectors involved University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Fisheries and aquaculture Tourism and recreation Shipping and marine pollution Adjacent land management - land based sources of marine pollution Environment and conservation

Characteristics of Sectors University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Most systems based on separate regulation of and by user sectors or interests Departmental and Ministerial inclination typically to work “within the fences” Interdepartmental collaboration typically grudging

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security What are ecosystem services? The full range of benefits, recognised or as yet unrecognised, that human populations may derive from ecosystems directly or indirectly Visible goods and invisible services

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Visible goods Wild caught sea food Raw materials - algae Cultivated foods Medicinal treatments and products Non or slowly renewable resources building materials, oil, minerals

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Invisible Services Shoreline maintenance Flood and storm protection Sand production Nutrient cycling Waste assimilation and remediation Mixing.

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Invisible Services Transport of organic production to food webs Development and transport of young Wave and tidal energy Recreation Inspiration Support of cultural, aesthetic and spiritual values

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability ) University of Wollongong Centre for Maritime Policy Free goods or environmental subsidies? Wild food - Perpetual sustainability or subsistence Food with minimal financial investment Preservable seasonal gluts Protein capital convertible to financial capital Effort freed from subsistence - available for other activity

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability ) University of Wollongong Centre for Maritime Policy Environmental subsidies Cheap food Cheap waste disposal Cheap real estate Economic savings through environmental costs

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security The importance of habitat Critical habitat - sites spawning, birthing, migratory Sustaining habitat -areas food, shelter, protection from predators

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security The importance of ecosystem processes Photosynthesis Nutrient cycling Carbon sinks Sediment dynamics Cyclical and episodic events Resilience Adaptation

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Costs of loss of ecosystem process. Coral reefs healthy -15 Mt/km2 yr (10 person fishing years per year 25% degradation - <10 Mt/km2 yr 75% degradation - <1 Mt/km2 yr Similar losses in CaCO3 production in corals, algal and seagrass beds

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Costs of loss, repair or replacement. Beach replenishment Restoring water quality Restoring sea grass Restoring reefs

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Restoration - Expensive - costs, area coverage, effectiveness, ecosystem contribution - unlikely to be completely successful in short to medium term Focus should be on avoiding damage, removing threats and rehabilitation

Management tools University of Wollongong Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security Spatial allocation and separation Temporal allocation and separation Equipment controls Permitted impact levels, quotas Skills requirements Evaluation/audit of implementation and compliance

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