1. Climate Change on the Great Barrier Reef Management efforts and challenges David Wachenfeld & Paul Marshall

2. Outline Background Communication Tactical Response Strategic Response Conclusions

3. Background 2,900 individual coral reefs Severe coral bleaching events in 1998 and 2002 GBR has been lucky so far The warning bell has rung 25 26 27 28 29 18701900193019601990202020502080 2002 Aerial survey (640 reefs) Figure courtesy of Dr Janice Lough- AIMS

4. Communication u Regular status reports u Dedicated website u Stakeholder briefings u Media– print, radio, TV u Scientific reports u Ministerial briefings

5. GBRMPA Bleaching Response Plan GBRMPA Bleaching Response Plan (in collaboration with AIMS & NOAA) u Monitoring stress levels u Coral bleaching early warning system u Broad-scale surveys Jan 4 u Fine-scale surveys Tactical Response Tiered Monitoring System

6. NOAA Hotspot development 2001/02 Dec 22Jan 14 Jan 4Jan 29Feb 11 Feb 23 Mar 5 Mar 23 Tactical Response Monitoring stress levels AIMS/GBRMPA Automatic Weather Stations

7. Remember… u Knowledge u Credibility u Empowerment

8. Public reporting program u Tourism operators, Marine Parks Rangers, scientists etc u Reports received via GBRMPA web site u Helped focus surveys u Communication tool Tactical Response Coral bleaching early warning system

9. Tactical Response Broad-scale surveys u From planes u Structured random surveys (n = 640) u Five point categorical scale

10. Tactical Response Fine scale surveys u On SCUBA u Rapid assessments + video transects u Structured random surveys (n = 27) u Targeted surveys (n = 8)

11. MethodExtent Average Severity (+mortality) Maximum Severity (+mortality) AerialYesNo Underwater (random) Yes No Underwater (targeted) No Yes Tactical Response Why three types of survey?

12. Strategic Response Reef condition Resilience threshold Biodiversity Biodiversity Water quality Water quality Over-fishing Over-fishing Increase resilience Sea temperature Reduce rate and magnitude of change

13. Strategic Response Strategic Response Protecting Biodiversity u Effects of climate change on biodiversity other than corals u Multiple use Marine Protected Area u How to design a system of Highly Protected (no take) areas within a Marine Protected Area? u Pick winners or spread the risk? u All physical, chemical and biological knowledge of Great Barrier Reef synthesised into 70 bio-regions u Target to protect at least 20% of each bio-region in HPAs u New draft zoning plan raises HPAs from 4.6% to 32.5% u Replication within each bio-region (spread the risk) u Special and unique areas (fish spawning, turtle nesting etc)

14. Strategic Response

16. Conclusions Future climate scenarios unprecedented Further reef damage is almost certain Potentially irreversible ecological & economic impacts GBRMPA has implemented an annual tactical bleaching response plan GBRMPA is informing national and international policy on climate change GBRMPA is maximising GBR resilience by protecting biodiversity, improving water quality, and reducing over-fishing