parks victoria technical series marine natural values study vol 2 ...
parks victoria technical series marine natural values study vol 2 ...
parks victoria technical series marine natural values study vol 2 ...
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Parks Victoria Technical Series No. 79<br />
Flinders and Twofold Shelf Bioregions Marine Natural Values Study<br />
Victorian distributions. Many areas of the Victorian coast have never been sampled and<br />
therefore biota ranges may be much greater than those suggested.<br />
In a <strong>study</strong> assessing the conservation of shallow subtidal reef fishes in Victoria Colton and<br />
Swearer (2009; 2010) observed 71 species of fish at Cape Howe and Gabo Island. They<br />
regard seven (Table 26), as species of concern as they are numerically and spatially rare at<br />
the state level. Four of these species are fished but low numbers in shallow subtidal reef<br />
may be partly because this is not their primary habitat.<br />
Table 26. Fish species of conservation concern because of their limited statewide distribution and<br />
abundance recorded at Cape Howe and Gabo Island (Colton and Swearer 2009). Species in bold are<br />
targeted for fishing.<br />
Family Species Common name Reason<br />
Carangidae Seriola lalandi yellowtail<br />
kingfish<br />
Unknown, fishery, tends<br />
to be pelagic<br />
Cheilodactylidae Nemadactylus macropterus jackass<br />
Usually deeper, fished<br />
morwong<br />
Moridae Lotella rhacina rock cod Unknown<br />
Orectolobidae Orectolobus sp. (O. spotted or Unknown<br />
maculatus, or O. halei) banded<br />
wobbegong<br />
Pentacerotidae Pentaceropsis recurvirostris Unknown<br />
Sphyraenidae Sphyraena novaehollandiae barracuda Fishery; prefers different<br />
habitat to that sampled<br />
Triakidae Mustelus antarcticus gummy shark Fished<br />
2.4.5 MAJOR THREATS<br />
Threats to <strong>natural</strong> <strong>values</strong> were derived from lists of hazards and associated risks in Carey et<br />
al. (2007b). These were the result of a statewide consultative process to identify threats to<br />
MPAs. Through public and agency workshops, the <strong>natural</strong> <strong>values</strong> in individual MPAs and the<br />
threats that could affect them over the next ten years, were considered and ranked to<br />
identify hazards. This list of hazards was then ranked (low, medium, high and extreme) by<br />
the risk posed by each hazard (Carey et al. 2007b). Five hazards with the potential to be<br />
extreme were identified by Carey et al. (2007b). They are listed in rank order and the habitat<br />
or area at risk within the park is indicated in brackets:<br />
1. Poaching of abalone in commercial quantities leading to decreased abalone<br />
populations and consequent impacts on subtidal reef communities (subtidal reef);<br />
2. Lack of ecological knowledge leading to inappropriate management and thus impacts<br />
on habitats and communities (all of MNP);<br />
3. Introduced <strong>marine</strong> pests from recreational boats leading to impacts on relevant<br />
ecological communities (potentially all of MNP);<br />
4. Introduced species from commercial vessels (including secondary introductions)<br />
leading to changes in community structure (potentially all of MNP); and<br />
5. Anchoring of recreational boats causing physical damage to subtidal reef habitats<br />
and communities (subtidal reef).<br />
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