Presenter - Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference 2019
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Presenter - Australian Marine Sciences Association Conference 2019
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Contribution to conference, workshop, seminar or course
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Description
Key marine habitats such as coral, seagrass, mangroves and wetlands commonly occur near ports and urban centres, exposing them to increased risks and threats associated with development and anthropogenic activity. Effectively mitigating these risks requires a strategic approach to monitoring habitat condition and resilience, and the development of management tools, even in the absence of immediate development pressures. This approach has been applied in the Queensland Ports Monitoring Program which examines seagrass, coral and water quality in many of Queensland’s commercial ports, as well as a range of targeted research for management application. The seagrass program is the longest running component with more than 20 years of continuous data collection. Here we show how this program provides an effective framework for design of similar programs and demonstrate the value of collecting long term ambient data for effective management of marine habitats. Key to success has been ensuring a scalable design developed in partnership with industry, regulators and scientists to ensure results are fit for purpose. The work has resulted in significant scientific gains in understanding seagrass ecosystems, a heightened protection of seagrasses and also facilitated the business of ports and shipping while minimising environmental harm.