Developing a New Monitoring and Evaluation ...

Developing a New Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Victoria’s Marine Protected Areas A case study using Intertidal Reefs in Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park Steffan Howe, Jacqui Pocklington, Mark Rodrigue, Jan Carey and Prue Addison

Victoria’s Marine National Parks & Sanctuaries:

‘maintain biodiversity and natural processes’ and ‘allow for compatible uses…’

Define Scope & Context

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Adaptive Management Framework

Analyse, Apply & Adjust

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Define Scope & Context Marine Natural Values Reports


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Marine Natural Values Reports • 1st completed 2003 - Inventory of natural values in MNPs and MSs • Next version completed – – – – – – –

Physical Parameters and Processes Marine Habitat Distribution Marine Ecological Communities Species of Conservation Significance Major Threats Research and Monitoring Knowledge Gaps

Available on PV website

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Define Scope & Context Conceptual Models A framework to help us to identify the main values, threats, processes and emerging issues


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Plan Conservation Outcomes Hierarchy


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Conservation Vision Natural Asset Goals Outcome Indicators, Target Ranges & Thresholds

Threat Objectives Effectiveness & Outcome Indicators, Target Ranges & Thresholds

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Conservation Outcomes Definitions Natural Assets


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1. Focal ecosystems (for Marine National Parks, these are generally the natural ecosystems that occur in the parks and include a KEA) Within each ecosystem there are:

i.

Nested assets – assemblages and communities Assemblages and communities that are characteristic, highly-valued and/or critical elements of the ecosystem.

ii.

Nested assets – species Single species should only be selected when there are strong reasons not to use assemblages or communities.

iii.

Important habitat features These are the important habitat elements of the ecosystem (such as seagrass/seaweed wrack, water quality…).

Cons. Out. Definitions cont… 2.


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Plan


Key Ecological Attributes (KEAs) - These are chosen from the nested assets and important habitat features (or key natural processes). It should be a short list of up to six attributes that when considered collectively, provide a summary of the most critical attributes and give us an overall understanding of the status or health of the focal ecosystem. Analyse, Adapt & Apply

Threats These are threats that have been identified through a risk assessment process to likely to have a significant impact on KEAs (priority Natural Assets) if not managed effectively.

Indicators These are aspects of the KEAs or threats that can be measured/assessed to provide an understanding of the status of each attribute or threat. Note: this is not about the targets or thresholds for these indicators, it is only about what to measure.

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Current / Desired Threat Level (Minor, Mod., Major) Strategies for Conservation: 2 3 4 5 6 1 4 5 1 2 3 4 6 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

nsure staff responsible for park management are adequately trained and maintain currency in regards to marine pollution response. Update contingency plans for marine pollution incidents such as oil and chemical spills, and cetacean/wildlife incidents, as required, and communicate arrangements to staff, relevant agencies and interested parties.

Liaise with the Borough of Queenscliff to minimise litter within the park. Liaise with the Borough of Queenscliff to minimise impacts of tormwater drains and achieve water quality levels consistent with SEPP objectives. Seek installation of in-line pollution prevention methods in the interim and amalgamation or removal of stormwater drains where possible. Incorporate water quality and catchment issues in interpretation and education programs and liaise with relevant agencies to communicate the need to improve park protection in wider community education programs. Encourage the participation of community groups in litter nvestigation, prevention and collection programs in the park, subject to safety considerations.

Investigate sources of litter within the park, and remove accumulated litter from intertidal areas where necessary to ensure public safety and to protect park values.

5

ork collaboratively with all agencies to implement the vision and directions of the plan. In particular work with Transport Safety Victoria on recreational boating safety and marine pollution incidents.

Moderate / Minor

Respond to marine incidents within the park in accordance with the Emergency Management Act and the Victorian Marine Pollution Contingency Plan (VICPLAN)

Minor / Minor

Update contingency plans for marine pollution incidents such as oil and chemical spills, and cetacean/wildlife incidents, as required, and communicate arrangements to staff, relevant agencies and interested parties.

To reduce the incidence of illegal resource use and extraction at Points Lonsdale and Nepean over the next 5 years

ncourage and support research into the impacts of intertidal trampling on intertidal communities at Point Lonsdale within the park with a view to determining an appropriate carrying capacity for the site.

To prevent the establishment of new marine pests and reduce the impact of existing pests at Points Lonsdale and Nepean over 5 years

Ensure all visitors to the park, particularly education, school and other groups, including the Marine Discovery Centre, adopt Parks Victoria’s Minimal Impact Guidelines. Manage shore-based activities to reduce impacts on the natural values and minimise damage associated with trampling, and if required manage visitors through voluntary protocols, conditions on tour operator permits, and regular patrols during peak times to encourage appropriate visitor use.

Illegal Resource Extraction (2)

Manage recreational, educational and licensed tour operated diving and snorkelling activities to minimise impacts on natural values.

Marine Pests (1)

Maintain roosting and feeding habitats of the park by prohibiting dogs from the intertidal reef areas of Point Lonsdale, and all areas of the Point Nepean, Mud Islands, Popes Eye and Swan Bay sections of the park, except where confined on a vessel Undertake standardised monitoring of impacts of trampling on intertidal reefs at Point Lonsdale from educational use. Review effectiveness of management measures. If impacts increase, work with users to determine carrying capacity for the reefs and consider limiting annual visitation numbers.

3

Maintain a system of boundary markers, signs and information which effectively communicates park boundaries.

2

Encourage visitors to assist with compliance management by reporting illegal fishing to the Fisheries Victoria offence reporting hotline and reporting other offences against the National Parks Act to the Queenscliff Parks Victoria office.

Key Threats:

Work collaboratively with Fisheries Victoria to implement the fishing prohibition and the Regional Compliance Plan

Key Threats to KEA's

Encourage visitors to assist with compliance management by reporting illegal fishing to the Fisheries Victoria offence reporting hotline and reporting other offences against the National Parks Act to the Queenscliff Parks Victoria office.

1

Undertake patrols to encourage appropriate behaviours and maintain a presence during periods of high visitation

Threat Objectives:

Encourage community groups, researchers, licensed tour operators and contractors to integrate the identification of marine pests into their activities and to report any sightings.

Key Ecological Attributes (Priority): Current / Desired Condition: (Good/Fair/Poor)

Include boat-cleaning protocols in contracts, licences or permits of contracted vessels, research vessels, and commercial and licensed tour operator vessels operating in the park.

Ecosystem goal:

Undertake pest programs only where research indicates that control or eradication is feasible and likely to be effective or as part of a co-ordinated regional or national response.

Ecosystem:

Manage all pest incursions in accordance with the Interim Victorian Protocol (NRE 1999b) (section 8.3).

Park Vision:

Establish an ongoing program to minimise the risk of marine pest introduction and subsequent spread that addresses improving the understanding of the potential means of introduction and spread and formalising arrangements for prevention, reporting, monitoring and response.

Park Name:

nsure that the detection of marine pests is reported in ccordance with Victorian pest management arrangements nd recorded on Parks Victoria’s Environmental Information ystem and other relevant databases.

Plan Conservation Action Plans

Moderate / Minor


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• Intertidal Reef – Pt Lonsdale & Pt Nepean

Adaptive Management Framework Plan


Minor / Minor

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Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park - Point Nepean and Point Lonsdale sections

A future visitor to the Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park finds a living example of the rich tapestry of Victoria’s marine and coastal environments. The park preserves a diversity of habitats, from complex calcarenite reefs supporting many endemic species to tranquil seagrass meadows, colourful sponge gardens, mud flats and sandy deltas that nurture generations of species, some previously threatened. Local and international visitors are drawn to explore the natural values of the park. Divers and snorkelers continue to be awed and inspired by the spectacular underwater environment. Accessible intertidal reefs and quiet shallows are a haven of discovery and support sustainable tourism and educational visitation. Intertidal reef To maintain the extent and condition of habitat forming brown algae and associated invertebrates while maintaining suitable conditions for shorebird feeding on the intertidal reefs in the Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean sections of Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park over the next 15 years. Sessile invertebrate communities (e.g. tubeworms Brown algae (Hormosira banksii ) dominated Highly diverse invertebrate community on intertidal Feeding Habitat for Shorebirds (e.g. Red Galeolaria caespitosa, mussels Limnoperna pulex) communities (in low-mid littoral zone) (3) calcarenite reef (7) Necked Stint) (11) (7) Good/ Good Good / Good Good / Good Good / Good

Illegal Extraction, Disturbance, Oil / Fuel Marine Pests, Illegal Extraction, Disturbance, Oil / Fuel Marine Pests, Illegal Extraction, Disturbance, Oil / Fuel Disturbance, Oil / Fuel, Litter

Physical Disturbance (incl. dogs, trampling, Oil / Fuel Spills and Cleanup (4) Litter (5) boat impacts) (3) To reduce the level of disturbance to park To minimise the potential impact of To reduce the incidence of litter values including avifauna, marine species, oil / fuel spills at Points Lonsdale occurring within Points Lonsdale or and visitors, at Points Lonsdale and Nepean and Nepean over the next 5 years Nepean over the next 5 years over the next 5 years Minor / Minor

Plan Monitoring Plan - Indicators


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• Outcome

Plan



– Is there a change in the priority natural assets? • Extent and % cover of Hormosira

• Effectiveness – Did it have the desired effect? • Number of visitors to intertidal reef platforms/trampling Hormosira*

• Activity – Did we do what we said we would do? • E.g. Number of Ranger patrols during peak times to encourage appropriate visitor use

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Plan Identifying Indicators for Ecological Monitoring 1. Premise – No “perfect” set of indicators – Many “suitable sets”

2. Identifying potential indicators – Literature review – Expert consultation

3. Criteria for selecting monitoring indicators – – – – – – – – –

Cost Low variability Link to the natural asset Low impact Sensitivity and response to threats State of methodology Used by partners Simplicity of methods Early warning (anticipatory)

Tier 1

Tier 2

Plan Thresholdsfor formanagement reporting condition Thresholds actions Utility thresholds

Unacceptable zone

Cautionary zone

Decision thresholds

Indicator value

Target range

Plan: Key Ecological Attributes – Intertidal Reefs Focal Ecosystem: INTERTIDAL REEFS Ecosystem Goal: To maintain the extent and condition of habitat forming brown algae and associated invertebrates while maintaining suitable conditions for shorebird feeding on the intertidal reefs in the Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean sections of Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park over the next 15 years. Current Desired Timeframe Key Ecological Attributes Potential Indicators Condition Condition (years) Brown algae (Hormosira banksii ) dominated communities (in low-mid littoral zone) This alga provides habitat for other flora and fauna including macroinvertebrate grazers, predators, scavengers and micro epifauna

   

Total extent (area) % cover Frond length Fragmentation metric / patchiness

G

G

15

Sessile invertebrate communities (e.g. tubeworms Galeolaria caespitosa, mussels Limnoperna pulex) The structure provided by these sessile invertebrates is used as habitat by limpets (e.g. Notoacmea sp.), and feeding areas for predatory gastropods (e.g. Lepsiella vinosa)

  

Total extent (area) % cover Fragmentation metric / patchiness

G

G

15

Highly diverse invertebrate community on intertidal calcarenite reef (Pt Lonsdale) − Highest diversity of any Victorian calcarenite reef.

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Diversity of invertebrates Abundance of key species

G

G

15

Important feeding habitat for threatened shorebirds (Pt Lonsdale) Shorebird feeding habitat of State significance calcarenite shore and reef platforms (Australasian Gannet, Black-faced Cormorant, Caspian Tern, Crested Tern, Eastern Curlew, Fairy Tern, Grey-headed Albatross, Northern Giant-Petrel, Pacific Gull, Pied Cormorant, Pomarine Jaeger, Shy Albatross, Southern Giant-Petrel, Wandering Albatross)

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Abundance of key bird species Abundance of key migratory bird species as percentage flyaway population Diversity of migratory shorebirds Extent of wrack/intertidal habitat as shorebird foraging habitat

G

G

15

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Plan: Threats (i.e. for Intertidal Reefs) Risk Ranking 2

Threat agent (stressor and source/activity)

Threatening processes

Impact statements

Illegal resource extraction  Fossicking

 Reduction or loss of flora or fauna

3

Physical disturbance  Trampling (visitors/dogs)  Recreational and commercial vessels (e.g. propeller scour, anchor damage, boat strike)

 Reduction or loss of flora or fauna  Disturbance of wildlife

 Fossicking may result in a reduction in the size and abundance of targeted species. Larger individuals are often targeted, which can contribute disproportionately to reproductive output. If too many large individuals are removed it can in result in reduced reproduction and recruitment for these species.  Trampling may reduce vegetation cover and result in habitat degradation.  Vessel related physical damage may damage habitat on a local scale.  Divers may disturb marine life and habitats through physical damage (e.g. fin kicks).

4

Oil/fuel spill or leak (including oil spill clean-up)  Commercial shipping  Commercial fishing  Port/marina activities

 Habitat modification or loss  Reduction or loss of flora or fauna  Disturbance of wildlife  Alterations to water quality

 Oil spills may smother sensitive intertidal ecosystems resulting in damage or loss habitat forming flora and fauna and associated communities (including shorebirds).  Oil spill clean-up with dispersants may result in toxic effects on flora and fauna leading to reduced fitness or mortality.

Threat agent (stressor and source/activity)

Potential Indicators

Physical disturbance  Trampling (visitors/dogs)  Recreational and commercial vessels (e.g. propeller scour, anchor damage, boat strike)

Effectiveness indicators These depend very much on the source:  Visitor numbers  Frequency of trampling/visitation Outcome indicators – for example Trampling (humans / visitors)  Hormosira: Total extent (area), % cover, Frond length, Fragmentation metric / patchiness  Number of nesting/foraging shorebirds and seabirds

Current Threat Level

Desired Threat Level

Timeframe (years)

Moderate

Minor

5

Threat objective (Physical disturbance): To reduce the level of disturbance to park values including avifauna, marine species, and visitors, at Points Lonsdale and Nepean over the next 5 years.

Plan Intertidal Reef Monitoring (Planning) Signs of Healthy Parks • Intertidal Reef Monitoring Program SoPs − − − −

Mobile invertebrates Macroalgae and Sessile Invertebrates Video/Photoquadrats Qualitative Observations

• Sea Search guidelines & website Intertidal reef methods

2.1 Cover quadrats – algae and inverts 2.2 Counting snails & other mobile creatures 2.3 Catch per unit effort – snail & limpet sizes

Management focussed monitoring Monitoring to determine the extent to which objectives are being met


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Implement Implement CAP Management Strategies • Manage shore-based activities: – – – –


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Ranger patrols during peak times to encourage appropriate visitor use Ranger patrols to restrict visitor use (e.g. partial closure of the reef) Signs/fences to restrict visitor use (e.g. partial closure of the reef) Manage visitation of education groups, school groups and others to the reef (e.g. restrict the number of groups at any one time on the reef) – Impose conditions on tour operator permits

• Education to encourage appropriate visitor use: – Install educational signs – Educate all visitors to the park about Victoria’s Minimal Impact Guidelines – Provide educational fliers

• Maintain a system of boundary markers

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Intertidal Reef Monitoring Programs • IRMP (Australian Marine Ecology) – IRMP began in 2004 at Pt Lonsdale – MPA and reference site – Surveys conducted annually

• Sea Search (not conducted at Pt Lonsdale) – Began 2005 program updated 2012 – Surveys conducted seasonally at MPA sites only

S1

S2

S4

S4

S5

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Analyse, Adapt & Apply Report Cards 80 60

Cover (%)

40 20 0

MPA Ref

2006

2008

2010

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Hormosira banksii Cover

2004


2012

2014

• Report on condition and level of threat(s) to values, and trends • To be developed for each MNP • Targeted analysis of monitoring data • Will feed into State of the Parks

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Port Phillip Heads MNP – 2013 Report Card Port Phillip Heads Marine National Park occurs in the southern part of Port Phillip Bay, which also includes three marine sanctuaries. The bay is part of the Victorian Embayments bioregion. The Point Lonsdale and Point Nepean sections of the park surround the headlands on both sides of the bay entrance (the Heads). These sections of the park protect a diversity of habitats, including complex intertidal and subtidal calcarenite reefs supporting many endemic species, artificial basalt reef, sandy beaches, seagrass meadows, and sponge gardens in deep waters and the water column.

Source: Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service

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Share & Learn Internally • Marine forums, marine team meetings, other communications

Externally • State, national & international conferences and meetings (AMSA, RPP, NMPAWG, WCPA, IMPAC etc.) • Scientific publications • Stakeholder meetings and forums

Internally & externally • Parks Victoria Technical Series http://parkweb.vic.gov.au • Communications Strategy


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