1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
1 1.10 Application of estuarine and coastal classifications in marine ...
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to return to an un-impacted state. Quantitative values for the five criteria were estimated from the<br />
mean <strong>of</strong> survey responses by 25 scientific experts on the NWHI <strong>and</strong> comb<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong>to a s<strong>in</strong>gle<br />
‘‘vulnerability score’’ for every ecozone-threat comb<strong>in</strong>ation. Ecozones were classified from the<br />
exist<strong>in</strong>g digital benthic habitat maps created by the Biogeography Branch <strong>of</strong> the U.S. National<br />
Oceanic <strong>and</strong> Atmospheric Adm<strong>in</strong>istration<br />
(http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/nwhi_mapp<strong>in</strong>g.html).<br />
In contrast to the global impacts model, the local model revealed that cumulative impact<br />
was greater for shallow reef areas than deeper <strong>of</strong>fshore areas, which corroborated expert op<strong>in</strong>ion.<br />
One specific location experienced 13 <strong>of</strong> the total 14 threats used <strong>in</strong> the model. Ocean temperature<br />
variation associated with disease outbreaks was found to have the highest predicted impact<br />
overall, however, ship traffic was identified as a high threat that could be more easily mitigated<br />
via management action. Managers can make use <strong>of</strong> these maps to prioritize management actions,<br />
guide permitt<strong>in</strong>g decisions <strong>and</strong> to design targeted monitor<strong>in</strong>g programs.<br />
<strong>1.10</strong>.8.5 Classify<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> Mapp<strong>in</strong>g Coastal Vulnerability to Climate Change <strong>in</strong> Australia<br />
The Department <strong>of</strong> Climate Change <strong>and</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong> Environment, Water, Heritage<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Arts (DEWHA) are work<strong>in</strong>g with the states <strong>and</strong> territories through the Intergovernmental<br />
Coastal Advisory Group to assess Australia’s <strong>coastal</strong> vulnerability to climate change, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g<br />
impacts on <strong>coastal</strong> habitats <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>frastructure. The Coastal Vulnerability Assessment Project<br />
(Sharples 2009) will provide fundamental datasets to support decision makers <strong>in</strong> identify<strong>in</strong>g<br />
those areas <strong>in</strong> Australia’s <strong>coastal</strong> zone where potential climate change impacts may be rated as<br />
high, medium <strong>and</strong> low. This assessment is based on data from a nationally consistent geomorphic<br />
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