Improving spatial prioritisation for remote marine regions: optimising biodiversity conservation and sustainable development trade-offs

Authors

Cordelai H. Moore, Curtin University, Western Australia
Ben T. Radford, University of Western Australia
Hugh P. Possingham, The University of Queensland, Australia
Andrew Heyward, University of Western Australia
Romola R. Stewart, The University of Queensland, Australia
Matthew E. Watts, The University of Queensland, Australia
Jim Prescott, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Darwin, Northern Territory
Stephen J. Newman, Department of Fisheries, Western AustraliaFollow
Euan S. Harvey, Curtin University, Western Australia
Rebecca Fisher, University of Western Australia
Clay W. Bryce, Western Australian Museum, Perth
Ryan J. Lowe, University of Western Australia
Oliver Berry, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Western AustraliaFollow
Alexis Espinosa- Gayosso, University of Western Australia
Errol Sporer, Department of Fisheries, Western Australia
Thor Saunders, Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-24-2016

Journal Title

Scientific Reports

ISSN

Electronic: 2045-2322

Keywords

Biodiversity, Biogeography, Conservation biology, Ecological modelling

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Marine Biology | Natural Resource Economics | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Sustainability | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Abstract

Creating large conservation zones in remote areas, with less intense stakeholder overlap and limited environmental information, requires periodic review to ensure zonation mitigates primary threats and fill gaps in representation, while achieving conservation targets. Follow-up reviews can utilise improved methods and data, potentially identifying new planning options yielding a desirable balance between stakeholder interests. This research explored a marine zoning system in north-west Australia–a biodiverse area with poorly documented biota. Although remote, it is economically significant (i.e. petroleum extraction and fishing). Stakeholder engagement was used to source the best available biodiversity and socio-economic data and advanced spatial analyses produced 765 high resolution data layers, including 674 species distributions representing 119 families. Gap analysis revealed the current proposed zoning system as inadequate, with 98.2% of species below the Convention on Biological Diversity 10% representation targets. A systematic conservation planning algorithm Maxan provided zoning options to meet representation targets while balancing this with industry interests. Resulting scenarios revealed that conservation targets could be met with minimal impacts on petroleum and fishing industries, with estimated losses of 4.9% and 7.2% respectively. The approach addressed important knowledge gaps and provided a powerful and transparent method to reconcile industry interests with marine conservation.

Recommended Citation

Moore, C., Radford, B., Possingham, H. et al. Improving spatial prioritisation for remote marine regions: optimising biodiversity conservation and sustainable development trade-offs. Sci Rep 6, 32029 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep32029