Biodiveristy_State of Environment report - Mission Beach Cassowaries

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It can be seen from the ELF experiment that the mosteffective strategy for the fishing industry in all scenarios isto reduce effort by half. This is because the fish populationsrecover exponentially. If effort is reduced by half, evenclosures of 30% of the reef do not appreciably affect catchreturns. Fifty percent reef closures do have some effect, butthe return at half effort is still slightly higher than for noclosures with normal effort.It is obvious that overfishing will ruin the industry andreduce individual profits. Some fishing licences have beenremoved, but management must ensure fishing effort isrestricted.The fishing industry can only complain about the currentlevel of reef closures if they are determined to continue toconduct poor management of their industry.The Tragedy of the Commons“The tragedy of the commons develops in this way. Picture apasture open to all. It is to be expected that each herdsman willtry to keep as many cattle as possible on the commons. Such anarrangement may work reasonably satisfactorily for centuriesbecause tribal wars, poaching, and disease keep the numbers ofboth man and beast well below the carrying capacity of theland. Finally, however, comes the day of reckoning, that is, theday when the long-desired goal of social stability becomes areality. At this point, the inherent logic of the commonsremorselessly generates tragedy.As a rational being, each herdsman seeks to maximize his gain.Explicitly or implicitly, more or less consciously, he asks,"What is the utility to me of adding one more animal to myherd?" This utility has one negative and one positivecomponent.1. The positive component is a function of the increment ofone animal. Since the herdsman receives all the proceedsfrom the sale of the additional animal, the positive utility isnearly + 1.2. The negative component is a function of the additionalovergrazing created by one more animal. Since, however,the effects of overgrazing are shared by all the herdsmen,the negative utility for any particular decision makingherdsman is only a fraction of -1.Adding together the component partial utilities, the rationalherdsman concludes that the only sensible course for him topursue is to add another animal to his herd. And another....But this is the conclusion reached by each and everyrational herdsman sharing a commons. Therein is thetragedy. Each man is locked into a system that compels himto increase his herd without limit -- in a world that islimited. Ruin is the destination toward which all men rush,each pursuing his own best interest in a society that believesin the freedom of the commons. Freedom in a commonsbrings ruin to all.A simple incident that occurred a few years ago inLeominster, Massachusetts shows how perishable theknowledge is. During the Christmas shopping season theparking meters downtown were covered with plastic bagsthat bore tags reading: "Do not open until after Christmas.Free parking courtesy of the mayor and city council." Inother words, facing the prospect of an increased demand foralready scarce space, the city fathers reinstituted the systemof the commons. (Cynically, we suspect that they gainedmore votes than they lost by this retrogressive act.)…Likewise, the oceans of the world continue to suffer fromthe survival of the philosophy of the commons. Maritimenations still respond automatically to the shibboleth of the"freedom of the seas." Professing to believe in the"inexhaustible resources of the oceans," they bring speciesafter species of fish and whales closer to extinction.”(On managing the commons) “…What shall we do? Wehave several options. We might sell them off as privateproperty. We might keep them as public property, butallocate the right to enter them. The allocation might be onthe basis of wealth, by the use of an auction system. It mightbe on the basis of merit, as defined by some agreed uponstandards. It might be by lottery. Or it might be on a firstcome,first-served basis, administered to long queues.These, I think, are all objectionable. But we must choose --or acquiesce in the destruction of the commons…”Excerpt from "The Tragedy of the Commons," by GarrettHardin (1968)66
4. Deficiencies in DataAs noted in the sections dealing with fauna and flora, thereis little reliable information for most species present in theShire. A record of the total diversity of species is not yetcomplete, and there is no real information on thedistribution of species.This should be improved, but given the number of speciesin the Shire priority should be for the endangered species,and towards identifying species that may have locallylimited distributions. This will assist in further conservationefforts.Rec: QPWS work towards recording the diversity of speciesin the Shire - QPWSRec: QPWS compile data and mapping of the distribution ofconservation significant species in the Shire - QPWSRec: Engage university students and other tertiaryinstitutions to conduct research projects on ecosystems,flora and fauna in the Shire - QPWS, Council, TAFERec: Lobby Earthwatch to establish research projects in theShire - Council5. ReferencesAIMS Website (2005a) "Interactive data summaries for the Great BarrierReef" Australian Institute Marine Science, Viewed on 15/1/5, http://www.aims.gov.au/monmap/monmap.htmAIMS Website (2005b) "A mangrove is more than just a tree ..."Australian Institute of Marine Science, Viewed on 22/8/5, http://www.aims.gov.au/pages/research/project-net/mangroves-01/apnetmangroves01.htmlAllanson S. (2005) Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, MissionBeach - Personal Communication, May 2005.ANZECC (2000) "National Water Quality Management Strategy -Australian Guidelines for Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting"Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council/Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and NewZealand, October 2000Australian Greenhouse Office (2004) "Climate change in the Cairns &Great Barrier Reef Region: Scope and Focus for an IntegratedAssessment" Australian Greenhouse Office, Commonwealth ofAustralia. Viewed on 222/8/5, http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/impacts/publications/pubs/gbr.pdfBell, R. (1996) "Johnstone River Catchment Revegetation Strategy"Johnstone River Catchment Management Association, QueenslandBentrupperbaumer J. (1992) "Cassowary monitoring program for thewhole of Cardwell and part of Johnstone Shires, North Queensland."Unpublished report to Queensland National Parks and WildlifeService Grant Scheme for research on Rare and Threatened Species,Wildlife Preservation Society, Tully.Biodiversity Strategy (2003) "Strategy for the Conservation ofBiodiversity in the Johnstone Shire" Dryden, B., Johnstone ShireCouncil, InnisfailC4 (2005) Community for Cassowary and Coastal Conservation Inc,Mission BeachCSIRO Website (2005)"CSIRO cane toad research" CommonwealthScientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia. Viewed on22/8/5, http://www.csiro.au/index.asp?type=faq&id=CaneToadControlDEH (2004) "Draft Sustainable and legal Indigenous harvest of MarineTurtles and Dugongs in Australia - A national approach". MACCTaskforce on Dugong and Marine Turtle Populations, Department ofthe Environment and Heritage, Commonwealth of Australia. Viewedon 22/8/5, http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/species/turtles/pubs/nationalapproach.pdfDEH Website (1999) "Hill acts to protect marine turtles" Department ofEnvironment and Heritage, Commonwealth of Australia. Viewed on22/8/5, http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/99/mr12aug99.htmlDEH Website (2005)"Threat Abatement Plan for Predation, HabitatDegradation, Competition and Disease Transmission by Feral Pigs"Department of Environement and Heritage, Commonwealth ofAustralia. Viewed on 12/9/2005, http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/pig/DPI&F (2005) "Fisheries Long Term Monitoring Program" Requesteddata reproduced with permission of Queensland Department ofPrimary Industries and Fisheries, Copyright State of Queensland,2005DPI&F Website (2005a) "Tilapia" Queensland Department of PrimaryIndustries: Brisbane, Viewed on 22/8/5, http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/1406.htmlDPI&F Website (2005b) " Coastal Habitat Resources Information System(CHRIS)" Viewed on 18/8/2005, http://chrisweb.dpi.qld.gov.auDuke N.C., Bell A.M., Pederson D.K. Roelfsema C.M., Godson L.M.Zahmel K.N., Mackenzie J. Bengtson-Nash S. (2003) "MackayMangrove Dieback Investigations in 2002 with Recommendations forFurther Research, Monitoring and Management - Report to theQueensland Department of Primary Industries, Northern FisheriesCentre and the Community of Mackay Region" Marine BotanyGroup, Centre for Marine studies. University of QueenslandEPA (2005a) "Regional Ecosystem Database Information" QueenslandHerbarium, Environmental Protection Agency, QueenslandEPA (2005b) "Environmental Protection Agency (2005) WildNetDatabase" Environmental Protection Agency, Queensland, 15February 2005EPA Website (2005) "Wet tropics forest transfer" EnvironmentalProtection Agency, Queensland. Viewed on 22/8/5, http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/management/forest_transfer_processes_in_queensland/wet_tropics_forest_transfer/GBRMPA Website (1998) “State of the Great barrier reef World HeritageArea - Seagrass” Available @ http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/sotr/1998/seagrass_frame.html)GBRMPA Website (2005a) "Frequently Asked Questions " Viewed on22/8/5, http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/key_issues/conservation/world_heritage_faq.html#When%20and%20why%20was%20the%20GBRWHA%20listed%20as%20a%20World%20Heritage%20PropertyGRMPBA Website (2005b) "State of the Great barrier Reef MarineHeritage Area Report 1998 - Marine Reptiles" Great Barrier ReefMarine Park Authority. Viewed on 22/8/5, http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/publications/sotr/1998/reptiles_frame.htmlGoosem, S., Morgan, G. & Kemp, J.E., (1999) "Conservation Status ofQueensland’s Bioregional Ecosystems – Wet Tropics" EnvironmentalProtection Agency, QueenslandHardin, G. (1968) "The Tragedy of the Commons," Science, 162(1968):1243-1248.Haynes, D., Ralph, P., Müller, J., Prange, J., Michalek-Wagner, K. andWaterhouse, J. (2000) "The Occurrence and Impact of Herbicides inthe Great Barrier Reef, Australia” Reef Research Volume 10 No 2-4June – December 2000, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park AuthorityHervey, B. (2003) C4, Community for Cassowary and CoastalConservation Inc - Personal Communication, May 2003Hyde, M. (2002) "Johnstone Shire Pest Management Plan 2002 –2006",Johnstone Shire Council, Queensland.Jebreen, E.J., Helmke S.A., Bullock C.L. & Hutchinson M.J. (2002)"Fisheries Long-Term Monitoring Program: Freshwater Report: 2000-2001". Department of Primary Industries, Queensland. DPI QI02058JES (2005) Johnstone Ecological Society - Personal Communication, June2005.McKenna, S., Rasheed, M. and Thomas, R. (DPI&F 2005) "Long-TermSeagrass Monitoring in the Port of Mourilyan" Marine EcologyGroup Northern Fisheries Centre Department of Primary IndustriesInformation Serries QI05037 November 2004Moore L.A. and Moore N.J. (1998) 'Cassowary Conservation Roads - ACassowary management Strategy and Road Upgrade Assessment forEl Arish and Tully-Mission Beach roads, Mission Beach. Reportconducted for the Department of Main Roads, December 1998.Natural Resource Management Board Inc. (2000) "Wet Tropics regionalStrategy – Natural Resource Management" Natural ResourceManagement Board (Wet Tropics) Inc., QueenslandNew Scientist Website (2003) "Copper decimates coral spawning" EmmaYoung in New Scientist, 18 November 2003. Viewed on 22/8/5,http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn4391New Scientist Website (2004a) "Sewage nutrients fuel coral disease"Rachel Nowak in New Scientist, 11 January 2004. Viewed on 22/8/5,67
Page 1 and 2: Contents1.1 Introduction 241.2 Majo
Page 5 and 6: 2.1.1 Representation andRestoration
Page 7 and 8: Table 2.1.1c - Regional Ecosystems
Page 9 and 10: Table 2.1.1d - The Shire's Protecte
Page 11 and 12: Responses to Clearing, Fragmentatio
Page 13 and 14: conservation covenant.This can incl
Page 15 and 16: 2.1.2 Roads andInfrastructurePressu
Page 17 and 18: of the vital role they play in dete
Page 19 and 20: and Hales 1997) where freshwater Me
Page 21 and 22: These include areas where rainfores
Page 23 and 24: which has the potential to invade l
Page 25 and 26: NR&M are conducting research in the
Page 27 and 28: The further effects of these scenar
Page 29 and 30: 2.3b - Endemicity of FaunaSource: A
Page 31 and 32: not survive.This makes available ha
Page 33 and 34: C4C4 are able champions of habitat
Page 35 and 36: Reef at low tideCrown of Thorns Sta
Page 37 and 38: ResponsesGreat Barrier Reef Marine
Page 39 and 40: Rec: Council should support the fur
Page 41 and 42: ResponsesIn 1999 the Flatback turtl
Page 43: ConditionThe AIMS conducts monitori
Page 47 and 48: 6. AppendicesAppendix 6.1 Fauna in
Page 49 and 50: Class - BirdsFamily Scientific Name
Page 55 and 56: ReptilesClass - ReptilesFamily Scie
Page 58 and 59: Family Scientific Name Common Name
Page 60 and 61: Family Scientific Name Common Name
Page 62 and 63: Appendix 6.3—Status of the Shire'
Page 64 and 65: Appendix 6.4—Council Reserves wit
Page 66 and 67: Appendix 6.5Results of DPI&F Long-t

Biodiveristy_State of Environment report - Mission Beach Cassowaries

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