The incidental capture of wildlife in fishing gear presents a global conservation challenge. As a... more The incidental capture of wildlife in fishing gear presents a global conservation challenge. As a baseline to inform assessments of the impact of bycatch on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) interacting with an Australian trawl fishery, we conducted an aerial survey to estimate dolphin abundance across the fishery. Concurrently, we carried out boat-based dolphin photo-identification to assess short-term fidelity to foraging around trawlers, and used photographic and genetic data to infer longer-term fidelity to the fishery. We estimated abundance at ≈ 2,300 dolphins (95% CI = 1,247–4,214) over the ≈ 25,880-km 2 fishery. Mark-recapture estimates yielded 226 (SE = 38.5) dolphins associating with one trawler and some individuals photographed up to seven times over 12 capture periods. Moreover, photographic and genetic re-sampling over three years confirmed that some individuals show long-term fidelity to trawler-associated foraging. Our study presents the first abundance estimate for any Australian pelagic dolphin community and documents individuals associating with trawlers over days, months and years. Without trend data or correction factors for dolphin availability, the impact of bycatch on this dolphin population's conservation status remains unknown. These results should be taken into account by management agencies assessing the impact of fisheries-related mortality on this protected species. As both the human population and our demand for seafood grow, the incidental capture, or bycatch, of non-target species in fisheries continues to present a global conservation challenge 1–3. Bycatch in fisheries is widely recognized as the most pressing threat to the persistence of many populations of marine megafauna 4, 5. For example , entanglement in fishing gear contributed to the extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) 6. Fishing's direct (bycatch or targeted hunting) and indirect impacts (habitat modification and prey depletion) are also implicated in declines that may be irreversible in marine megafauna including: common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the Mediterranean Sea 7 ; finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) in the Yangtze estuary 8 ; the endemic sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri and Neophoca cinerea) of New Zealand 9 and Australia 10 ; shark populations globally 11 ; and vaquitas (Phocoena sinus) in the Gulf of California 12. In addition to exacerbating global biodiversity loss, unsustainable fishing and the removal of populations of megafauna, apex predators in particular, may also have cascading effects on the structure of communities and ecosystem function 13–16. Resolving megafauna bycatch is challenging as it is often poorly understood, inadequately documented, and it varies considerably between fishery types and the species subject to capture 17, 18. There has also been a lack of coordination and common purpose between the agencies with the mandate to manage fisheries and those charged with the conservation and management of marine megafauna 17, 19. Furthermore, the life history traits of marine megafauna (slow growth, late maturation and low reproductive rates) render many species vulnerable to
Animals prefer to use an area based on its physical environment (eg, depth, slope, sea surface te... more Animals prefer to use an area based on its physical environment (eg, depth, slope, sea surface temperature, habitat type), food availability, protection from predators, suitability as a breeding or calving ground and lack of anthropogenic pressures. Detecting these critical areas and explaining the factors that influence habitat use and movements are important for conservation and management efforts of a species. Habitat modelling is a powerful tool for predicting distribution patterns and understanding the ecological and physical factors that ...
Participatory mapping in social research is characterized by methodological pluralism, with two c... more Participatory mapping in social research is characterized by methodological pluralism, with two common methods being qualitative mapping using stakeholder interviews and quantitative methods that engage larger public samples through digital, internet mapping. To date, there has been no systematic evaluation of the extent to which mixed methods in participatory mapping yield valid results when applied to the same research setting and research questions. A mixed methods research design (combined exploratory sequential and convergent parallel) was implemented in a large research project to identify marine and coastal values in the Kimberley region of Australia. Qualitative interviews (n=167) were completed with stakeholders to identify place-based values using polygon mapping methods and internet-based public participation GIS (PPGIS) methods (n=578). We defined and operationalized the concepts of concurrent, commensurate, and convergent validity to assess mixed methods research outcomes. We found that qualitative and quantitative methods resulted in moderate to high concurrent validity when assessing the importance of place values in the study area. Convergent validity (spatial) was highly variable by place value, with stronger convergent validity found with mapped aesthetic, recreational fishing, tourism, biodiversity, and Aboriginal culture values, and weakest with existence, therapeutic, and commercial fishing values. Convergent validity was influenced by weak commensurate validity through the use of different geometric features (polygons versus points) for mapping values across a large study area. The utility of mixed methods for planning decision support in a convergent parallel design depends on demonstrating convergence in construct meaning, spatial location, and consistency in values in the sampling populations.
Marine protected area (MPA) designs are likely to require iterative refinement as new knowledge i... more Marine protected area (MPA) designs are likely to require iterative refinement as new knowledge is gained. In particular, there is an increasing need to consider the effects of climate change, especially the ability of ecosystems to resist and/or recover from climate-related disturbances, within the MPA planning process. However, there has been limited research addressing the incorporation of climate change resilience into MPA design. This study used Marxan conservation planning software with fine-scale shallow water (<20 m) bathymetry and habitat maps, models of major benthic communities for deeper water, and comprehensive human use information from Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia to identify climate change resilience features to integrate into the incremental refinement of the marine park. The study assessed the representation of benthic habitats within the current marine park zones, identified priority areas of high resilience for inclusion within no-take zones and examined if any iterative refinements to the current no-take zones are necessary. Of the 65 habitat classes, 16 did not meet representation targets within the current no-take zones, most of which were in deeper offshore waters. These deeper areas also demonstrated the highest resilience values and, as such, Marxan outputs suggested minor increases to the current no-take zones in the deeper offshore areas. This work demonstrates that inclusion of fine-scale climate change resilience features within the design process for MPAs is feasible , and can be applied to future marine spatial planning practices globally.
Stakeholders are presumed to represent different interests for marine and coastal areas with the ... more Stakeholders are presumed to represent different interests for marine and coastal areas with the potential to influence marine protected area planning and management. We implemented a public participation GIS (PPGIS) system in the remote Kimberley region of Australia to identify the spatial values and preferences for marine and coastal areas. We assessed similarities and differences in PPGIS participants (N = 578) using three operational definitions for “stakeholder” based on: (1) self-identified group, (2) self-identified future interests in the region, and (3) participant value orientation that reflects a preferred trade-off between environmental and economic outcomes. We found moderate levels of association between alternative stakeholder classifications that were logically related to general and place-specific participatory mapping behavior in the study region. We then analyzed how stakeholder classifications influence specific management preferences for proposed marine protected areas (MPAs) in the study region. Conservation-related values and preferences dominated the mapped results in all proposed marine reserves, the likely result of volunteer sampling bias by conservation stakeholder interests participating in the study. However, we suggest these results may also reflect the highly politicized process of marine conservation planning in the Kimberley where conservation efforts have recently emerged and galvanized to oppose a major offshore gas development and associated land-based infrastructure. Consistent with other participatory mapping studies, our results indicate that the chosen operational definition for stakeholder group such as group identity versus interests can influence participatory mapping outcomes, with implications for MPA designation and management. Future research is needed to better understand the strengths and limitations of participatory mapping that is framed in stakeholder perspectives, especially when sampling relies heavily on volunteer recruitment and participation methods that appear predisposed to participatory bias. In parallel, practical efforts to ensure that social research efforts such as this are included in MPA planning must remain of the highest priority for scientists and managers alike.
The incidental capture of wildlife in fishing gear presents a global conservation challenge. As a... more The incidental capture of wildlife in fishing gear presents a global conservation challenge. As a baseline to inform assessments of the impact of bycatch on bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) interacting with an Australian trawl fishery, we conducted an aerial survey to estimate dolphin abundance across the fishery. Concurrently, we carried out boat-based dolphin photo-identification to assess short-term fidelity to foraging around trawlers, and used photographic and genetic data to infer longer-term fidelity to the fishery. We estimated abundance at ≈ 2,300 dolphins (95% CI = 1,247–4,214) over the ≈ 25,880-km 2 fishery. Mark-recapture estimates yielded 226 (SE = 38.5) dolphins associating with one trawler and some individuals photographed up to seven times over 12 capture periods. Moreover, photographic and genetic re-sampling over three years confirmed that some individuals show long-term fidelity to trawler-associated foraging. Our study presents the first abundance estimate for any Australian pelagic dolphin community and documents individuals associating with trawlers over days, months and years. Without trend data or correction factors for dolphin availability, the impact of bycatch on this dolphin population's conservation status remains unknown. These results should be taken into account by management agencies assessing the impact of fisheries-related mortality on this protected species. As both the human population and our demand for seafood grow, the incidental capture, or bycatch, of non-target species in fisheries continues to present a global conservation challenge 1–3. Bycatch in fisheries is widely recognized as the most pressing threat to the persistence of many populations of marine megafauna 4, 5. For example , entanglement in fishing gear contributed to the extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer) 6. Fishing's direct (bycatch or targeted hunting) and indirect impacts (habitat modification and prey depletion) are also implicated in declines that may be irreversible in marine megafauna including: common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in the Mediterranean Sea 7 ; finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) in the Yangtze estuary 8 ; the endemic sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri and Neophoca cinerea) of New Zealand 9 and Australia 10 ; shark populations globally 11 ; and vaquitas (Phocoena sinus) in the Gulf of California 12. In addition to exacerbating global biodiversity loss, unsustainable fishing and the removal of populations of megafauna, apex predators in particular, may also have cascading effects on the structure of communities and ecosystem function 13–16. Resolving megafauna bycatch is challenging as it is often poorly understood, inadequately documented, and it varies considerably between fishery types and the species subject to capture 17, 18. There has also been a lack of coordination and common purpose between the agencies with the mandate to manage fisheries and those charged with the conservation and management of marine megafauna 17, 19. Furthermore, the life history traits of marine megafauna (slow growth, late maturation and low reproductive rates) render many species vulnerable to
Animals prefer to use an area based on its physical environment (eg, depth, slope, sea surface te... more Animals prefer to use an area based on its physical environment (eg, depth, slope, sea surface temperature, habitat type), food availability, protection from predators, suitability as a breeding or calving ground and lack of anthropogenic pressures. Detecting these critical areas and explaining the factors that influence habitat use and movements are important for conservation and management efforts of a species. Habitat modelling is a powerful tool for predicting distribution patterns and understanding the ecological and physical factors that ...
Participatory mapping in social research is characterized by methodological pluralism, with two c... more Participatory mapping in social research is characterized by methodological pluralism, with two common methods being qualitative mapping using stakeholder interviews and quantitative methods that engage larger public samples through digital, internet mapping. To date, there has been no systematic evaluation of the extent to which mixed methods in participatory mapping yield valid results when applied to the same research setting and research questions. A mixed methods research design (combined exploratory sequential and convergent parallel) was implemented in a large research project to identify marine and coastal values in the Kimberley region of Australia. Qualitative interviews (n=167) were completed with stakeholders to identify place-based values using polygon mapping methods and internet-based public participation GIS (PPGIS) methods (n=578). We defined and operationalized the concepts of concurrent, commensurate, and convergent validity to assess mixed methods research outcomes. We found that qualitative and quantitative methods resulted in moderate to high concurrent validity when assessing the importance of place values in the study area. Convergent validity (spatial) was highly variable by place value, with stronger convergent validity found with mapped aesthetic, recreational fishing, tourism, biodiversity, and Aboriginal culture values, and weakest with existence, therapeutic, and commercial fishing values. Convergent validity was influenced by weak commensurate validity through the use of different geometric features (polygons versus points) for mapping values across a large study area. The utility of mixed methods for planning decision support in a convergent parallel design depends on demonstrating convergence in construct meaning, spatial location, and consistency in values in the sampling populations.
Marine protected area (MPA) designs are likely to require iterative refinement as new knowledge i... more Marine protected area (MPA) designs are likely to require iterative refinement as new knowledge is gained. In particular, there is an increasing need to consider the effects of climate change, especially the ability of ecosystems to resist and/or recover from climate-related disturbances, within the MPA planning process. However, there has been limited research addressing the incorporation of climate change resilience into MPA design. This study used Marxan conservation planning software with fine-scale shallow water (<20 m) bathymetry and habitat maps, models of major benthic communities for deeper water, and comprehensive human use information from Ningaloo Marine Park in Western Australia to identify climate change resilience features to integrate into the incremental refinement of the marine park. The study assessed the representation of benthic habitats within the current marine park zones, identified priority areas of high resilience for inclusion within no-take zones and examined if any iterative refinements to the current no-take zones are necessary. Of the 65 habitat classes, 16 did not meet representation targets within the current no-take zones, most of which were in deeper offshore waters. These deeper areas also demonstrated the highest resilience values and, as such, Marxan outputs suggested minor increases to the current no-take zones in the deeper offshore areas. This work demonstrates that inclusion of fine-scale climate change resilience features within the design process for MPAs is feasible , and can be applied to future marine spatial planning practices globally.
Stakeholders are presumed to represent different interests for marine and coastal areas with the ... more Stakeholders are presumed to represent different interests for marine and coastal areas with the potential to influence marine protected area planning and management. We implemented a public participation GIS (PPGIS) system in the remote Kimberley region of Australia to identify the spatial values and preferences for marine and coastal areas. We assessed similarities and differences in PPGIS participants (N = 578) using three operational definitions for “stakeholder” based on: (1) self-identified group, (2) self-identified future interests in the region, and (3) participant value orientation that reflects a preferred trade-off between environmental and economic outcomes. We found moderate levels of association between alternative stakeholder classifications that were logically related to general and place-specific participatory mapping behavior in the study region. We then analyzed how stakeholder classifications influence specific management preferences for proposed marine protected areas (MPAs) in the study region. Conservation-related values and preferences dominated the mapped results in all proposed marine reserves, the likely result of volunteer sampling bias by conservation stakeholder interests participating in the study. However, we suggest these results may also reflect the highly politicized process of marine conservation planning in the Kimberley where conservation efforts have recently emerged and galvanized to oppose a major offshore gas development and associated land-based infrastructure. Consistent with other participatory mapping studies, our results indicate that the chosen operational definition for stakeholder group such as group identity versus interests can influence participatory mapping outcomes, with implications for MPA designation and management. Future research is needed to better understand the strengths and limitations of participatory mapping that is framed in stakeholder perspectives, especially when sampling relies heavily on volunteer recruitment and participation methods that appear predisposed to participatory bias. In parallel, practical efforts to ensure that social research efforts such as this are included in MPA planning must remain of the highest priority for scientists and managers alike.
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Papers by Halina Kobryn