Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board’s annual progress towards targets in the region’s 20-year natural resources management plan
Regional report 2013Coast and marine
Regional target T11 & T12
Halt the decline of seagrass, reef, and other coast, estuarine and marine habitats and a trend toward restoration
Our marine and coastal environment• supportsourmarinespecies,manyofwhichareunique to Southern Australia• preventscoastalerosionandprotectsusagainst damage from floods and storms• supportsregionaltourism,commercialandrecreational fishing,aquacultureandshipping
Key regional issues include:• lossanddegradationofhabitat• land-basedsourcesofpollution• invasionofpestspecies
ActivitiesTheboard’sregionalNRMplanhastargetstoprotectcoast,estuarineandmarineenvironments.
Achievingthosetargetsisacollectiveeffortofstateandlocalgovernments,industriesandthecommunity.
AllprogramsreportedherearefundedfromtheNRMlevy.
MARINE LITTERBeachlitterisaglobalproblemthataffectsourcoastandmarineenvironmentsandanimalsincludingdolphins,fishandseabirds.
With help from the Commonwealth GovernmentCaringforourCountrygrantscheme,theboard,governmentagencies,localcouncilsandthecommunityhavebeenmonitoringmarinelitteronourlocalbeachesforthepasttwoyears.
Monitoring marine pollution
Number of litter items and weight (kg) collected across different regions between 2010- 11 and 2012- 13
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Wei
ght (
kg)
Metrop
olitan
Fleuri
eu Pe
ninsul
a
Kang
aroo I
sland
Lower
Yorke
Penin
sula
West G
ulf St
Vinc
ent
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
7000
8000
Num
ber o
f ite
ms
Items
2010 - 11
Weight
Items
2012 - 13
Weight
1%
69%
7%
8%
11%
3%
Plastic fragments and glass
Plastic containers
Fishing and boating
Packaging (bags)
General housing
Cigarettes
Building products
Type and number of litter items
2%1%
84%
8%
Number of items combined 2010- 11 and 2012- 13
Plastic
Glass and ceramic
Foam products
Metal
Paper and cardboard
Rubber
Material and clothing
Wood
The aim is to identify the key sources and potential impacts to local ecosystems and wildlife.
In the City of Onkaparinga, approximately 11.7 km of fishing line, 1430 hooks and 238 sinkers (2.9 kg) have been recovered and recycled.
Community engagement
Over40communitygroups,SurfLifeSavingSA,theNurseryandGardenIndustrySAand
otherpartnershavebeeninvolvedwiththeboardinvariousprojects andinitiatives.In2012-13,eventsand workshops coveredtopicssuchascoastalambassador
training,coastalactionplanning,ReefWatch,
HoodedPloverawarenessevents,DolphinDay,coastalgardenworkshops,marinedebrismonitoringandmore.
There are now nine coastal gardens demonstration sites located at surf life
savingandsailingclubsacrosstheregion. SurfLifeSavingSAand the Nursery and GardenIndustrySApartnered with the boardtomakethis asuccessfulprogram.
Theboardprovidesmanyopportunitiestoinvolvethecommunityinawareness-raising
eventsandworkshopstobuildlocalknowledge
of coastal and marine environments.The Coastal AmbassadorsTraining Program
saw 20 participants trainedinbasiccoast
andmarinestudies.Theseambassadorshavetakenthis
knowledgeandhavesincegoneontovolunteerwithlocalcommunitygroups.
BUILDING COMMUNITY SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY TO MANAGE COAST, ESTUARINE AND MARINE ENVIRONMENTS
HOOK, LINE AND THINKER
Theboard,incollaborationwiththecitiesofOnkaparingaandVictorHarborestablishedtheHook,LineandThinkerFishingDebrisRecyclingProgram in2012-13.
Theprojectenablesanglerstodisposeofand recycle unwanted fishing litter such as monofilamentfishingline,hooksandsinkersbeforeitendsupinmetropolitanwaterswhereitcancausedamagetoourmarine,estuarineandcoastalenvironmentsandwildlife.
Number of fishing items found
Hooks
Fishing line (monofilament)
Swivels
Fish attracters
Sinkers
Fishing line (braided)
Lures
Bait
Other
46%
21%
9%
8%
8%4%
1% 2%
205 Greenhill Road
EASTWOOD SA 5063
Phone: (08) 8273 9100
Fax: (08) 8271 9585
E-mail:[email protected]
www.naturalresources.sa.gov.au/adelaidemtloftyranges
Photography
HarlequinWrasse Simon Bryars
BlueDevil Simon Bryars
Seagrass Simon Bryars
Reefhabitat Simon Bryars
Snorkelers Natural Resources AMLR
Hook,LineandThinker Natural Resources AMLR
Marinedebris Jamie Hicks
Acknowledgements
The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board would liketothankthefollowingindividualsandorganisationsfortheirinvolvementinthecoastandmarineprograms.Theseinclude:BirdLifeAustralia,NatureConservationSocietyofSouthAustralia,ConservationCouncilofSouthAustralia,ReefWatch,DepartmentofEnvironment,WaterandNaturalResources,EnvironmentProtectionAuthority,CityofPortAdelaideEnfield,CityofCharlesSturt,DistrictCouncilofMallala,CityofVictorHarbor,CityofOnkaparinga,DistrictCouncilofYorkePeninsula,NaturalResourcesNorthernandYorke,NaturalResourcesKangarooIsland,UniversityofAdelaide,FlindersUniversity,SouthAustralianResearchandDevelopmentInstitute,BiosecuritySouthAustralia,SimonBryars,andallstaffandcommunityvolunteers.
HoodedPlovers Michele Sawyer
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Dan Weller, BirdLife Australia
Canoes Ben Grant on behalf of Natural Resources AMLR
Bushland condition monitoring Nature Conservation Society of South Australia
Samphire Natural Resources AMLR
For further information on the condition of South Australia’s coastal and marine environments visit:
www.NRconnect.sa.gov.au Click on NRM reporting
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Printedoncarbonneutralcertifiedpapersourcedfromresponsiblymanagedforests. Maine Recycled Silk – 60% certified post consumer waste recycled 40%certifiedvirginfibre
Protecting marine and coastal wildlife
TheHoodedPlover(Thinornis rubricollis is a smallbeach-nestingbirdthatbreedsinlow
numbersontheFleurieuPeninsula. TheHoodedPloverMonitoringand
Management Program is an effectivecollaborationinvolvingtheboard,BirdLifeAustralia,governmentagencies,councils,volunteersandthecommunity.Theaimistoimprove
thebreedingsuccessofthis protected species in
South Australia and increase awareness in thecommunity.In2012-13,theboardundertook486surveystodeterminethebreedinglocationsandsuccessof HoodedPlovers.
Program results indicate the number of breeding sites has increased and chick hatching success increased by 2.7%. Chick fledgling and survival rates have remained steady compared to previous years.
IMPROVING THE BREEDING SUCCESS OF THE ENDANGERED HOODED PLOVER
Number of chicks hatched
Chick survival
Number of chicks hatched and chick survival (%)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Chick
s ha
tche
d
32
34
36
Chick
sur
viva
l (%
)38
40
09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13
Number of Hooded Plover surveys
0
100
200
300
400
500
09-10 10-11 11-12 12-130
10
20
30
40
Number of Hooded Plover nests and breeding pairs
Breeding sites
Breeding pairs
09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13
Cumulative and total number of Blue Devils on Adelaide’s reefs
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Num
ber o
f blu
e de
vils
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Number of surveys 2010- 13
ADDRESSING DECLINES IN LITTLE PENGUIN COLONIES TheAMLRandKangarooIslandNRMboardsaredevelopingcollaborativeapproachestoaddressdeclinesinselectedLittlePenguincolonies inGulfStVincent.
Bar-tailed Godwit Black-tailed Godwit Common Greenshank Common Sandpiper Curlew Sandpiper Eastern Curlew Great Knot Greater Sand Plover Grey Plover Grey-tailed Tattler
Lesser Sand Plover Marsh Sandpiper Pacific Golden Plover Red Knot Red-necked Stint Ruddy Turnstone Ruff Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Whimbrel
Migratory shorebirds Resident shorebirds
Banded Lapwing Black-fronted Dotterel Black-winged Stilt Masked Lapwing Pied Oystercatcher Red-capped Plover Red-kneed Dotterel Red-necked Avocet Sooty Oystercatcher Banded Stilt
Resident shorebird counts 2012/13
Autumn 2013 Summer 2013 Winter 2012 Summer 2012
Num
ber o
f sho
rebi
rds
obse
rved
0
100
200
300
400
500
600 1449
1394
632
1277
6
1150
5
2466
7
Eachyearthousandsofmigratoryseabirdsflyfrombreedinggroundsinthenorthernhemisphere to feed and shelter with resident seabirdsalongourshores.Theboard,
workingwithBirdLifeAustralia, localcouncils,landholders
and the community has implementedshorebird
monitoring in AMLR since 2007-08 to address key actions outlined in the national Wildlife ConservationPlanfor
MigratoryShorebirds.
WORKING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT SHOREBIRD HABITAT
Migratory shorebird counts 2012-13
Winter 2012
Num
ber o
f sho
rebi
rds
obse
rved
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Summer 2013 Autumn 2013Summer 2012
2507
4210
1983
824
1103
4100
2055
The plan aims to better understand and protect these important local shorebird and habitats across our region. In 2012-13, 19 migratory species, and 10 resident species were observed across the AMLR region.
Northern OuterMilkies ReefMacs GroundSeacliff Reef
In 2012-13, on-ground works occurred at 59 sites along the northern, metropolitan and southern coast.
ON-GROUND WORKS TO RESTORE NATURAL RESOURCE CONDITION
Theboardcontinuestoimplementon-ground priorities identified in the SouthernFleurieu,MetropolitanandNorthernAdelaidecoastalactionplans.Complementing the actions of council partnersandcommunitygroups,theboard’sworkssupportrevegetationprogramstoimprovetheresilienceofremnantnativevegetation,toincreaselocaldiversityafterprioritypestplantandanimalcontrol,andtomaintainandestablishnewfencingtoreduce the impacts of erosion and damage tolocalenvironments.
Native plant revegetation
Fencing to reduce coastal erosion
Fencing to protect areas of conservation
Pest plant (weeds) control
Invasive pest animal control
Coastal managed land (hectares)
2%1%
83%
7%
7%
Reefsandseagrassesprovideimportanthabitatandfoodsourcesforawiderangeofmarinespecies.Rockyreefshelpinthestabilityoflocalcoastalenvironments.Similarly,seagrassmeadowsareimportantforseabedstability,withtheirrootstrappingsedimentsandreducingcoastalerosion.Seagrassesalsoprovideimportantnutrientcyclingandcarbonstoring.Ourreefand seagrasscommunitiesarevaluable ecologicalassetsforGulfStVincent.
Overthelast60years,somereefshavebecomedegradedandextensiveareasofseagrasshavebeenlost.Keythreatsincludedecliningwaterqualityfromtheinputofnutrients,pollutants,sedimentfromstormwater,agriculturalrunoffandtreatedwastewater.
Informationonreefconditionhasbeencollectedoveranumberofyearsand thedatahasrecentlybeenreviewed.Theconditionofourreefs(map)variesbetweensites,theratingsarebasedonsurveydatacollected up until 2010 and more recently between2012-13(8sites).
Managing marine habitats
Managing and protecting coastal habitats and estuaries
SUB TIDAL REEFS AND SEAGRASS
Theboard,togetherwiththeNatureConservationSocietyofSouthAustralia isworkingtoprovidebaselineinformationontheconditionofourcoastalvegetationusing ecological indicators that include nativediversity,plantrecruitmentandvegetationstructure.
The assessment of these sites and their conditionarebasedonacomparisontoundisturbedbenchmarkvegetationcommunities.Theirscoreratingcomes from multiple indicators ranging from goodtopoor.
COASTAL BUSHLAND MONITORING
Number of sites
Broad vegetation groups
Coastal cliff and dune Grassland,shrublands, low woodlands
Coastal samphire Tidalshrublands,bluebush,saltbush,swamppaperbark
Coastal fringing Woodlands,heathand swamps
52
10
4
The Coastal Bushland Condition Monitoring Program continues to survey 66 coastal sites across the AMLR region.
The board is working with the community and industry partners to continue monitoring the health of these important habitats and investigating ways to improve water quality before it enters the Gulf.
ASSESSING MARINE SPECIESTheboard,togetherwithDepartmentofEnvironment,Water,and NaturalResources,ismonitoringAdelaide’sreefsto determine the population condition of potentially
threatenedHarlequinWrasseandBlueDevilFish.Monitoring from 2010-13 included important Adelaidereefs:Aldinga,Seacliff,MacsGround,MilkiesandNorthernOuter.PhotosdevelopedfromfishmonitoringindicateBlueDevilsandHarlequinWrasseareimportantlong-termresidentsofourreefs.
COASTAL BUSHLAND MONITORING
GOOD
MODERATE
POOR
SUB TIDAL REEFS MONITORING
GOOD
MODERATE
POOR
SEAGRASS MONITORING
GOOD
MODERATE
POOR
ON-GROUND WORK SITES
2013 Achievements
59 Northern Metro Southern Area Area Area
11 20 28
Includes4estuaries
SUMMARY OF PROGRESS
20 YEAR REGIONAL TARGET
AHEAD OF TARGET
ON TARGET
BEHIND TARGET
NO PROGRESS IN LAST 12 MONTHS
ADELAIDE
VICTOR HARBOR
GULFSTVINCENT
Coastal gardens sites
Other on-ground works
Marinedebrissites
Coastalbushlandcondition sites
AMLRNRM Board boundary
ON-GROUND WORKS
nutrients
sedim
ents
pollution
Marine species Hook, Line and Thinker Program
Coastal wildlifeCoastal managed land Litter and pollution Sub tidal reefs
Seagrass
Coast and marine Regional report 2013
