Poster Presentation 2024 Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting combined with NZMSS

Harnessing Spatial Data for Seagrass Conservation and Management in Northern Australia (#675)

Alex Carter 1 , Catherine Collier 1 , Rachel Groom 2 , Kathryn McMahon 3 , Lucas Langlois 1 , Rob Coles 1 , Katie Chartrand 1 , Skye McKenna 1 , Timothy Smith 1 , Megan Proctor 1 , Christophe Cleguer 1 , Helene Marsh 4 , Shaun Evans 5 , David Barrett 5 , Fiona Keighran 5 , Mark Hogno 6 , . Normanton Rangers 6 , Jessica Koleck 7 , Thomas Wilson 7 , . Wellesley Islands Rangers 7 , Athanasia Hatzsis 8 , . Numbulwar Numburindi Rangers 8 , . Yugul Mangi Rangers 8 , Madeina David 9 , . Torres Strait Regional Authority Land and Sea Rangers 9 , Neil Smit 10 , Jonathan Vea 10 , Laura Boren 10 , Barbara Robson 11 , Jade Pryor 12 , . Girringun Rangers 12 , Jessica Armstrong 13 , Frances Verrier 14
  1. Tropwater, James Cook University, Smithfield, QLD, Australia
  2. Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
  3. Edith Cowen University, Perth, WA, Australia
  4. James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
  5. li-Anthawirriyarra Sea Rangers, Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Indigenous Corporation, Borroloola, NT, Australia
  6. Carpentaria Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Normanton, QLD, Australia
  7. Wellesley Islands Rangers, Mornington Island, QLD, Australia
  8. Northern Land Council, Darwin, NT, Australia
  9. Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), Thursday Island, QLD, Australia
  10. Parks and Wildlife, Department Environment Parks and Water Security, Northern Territory Government, Darwin, NT, Australia
  11. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD, Australia
  12. Girringun Aboriginal Corporation, Cardwell, QLD, Australia
  13. Migratory Species Section, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, ACT, Australia
  14. North Marine Parks Network, Parks Australia, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, ACT, Australia

Northern Australia's marine ecosystems face complex challenges requiring innovative solutions for conservation and management. The region boasts globally significant seagrass habitats, crucial for their economic (fisheries, tourism), conservation (marine parks, threatened species), and cultural values (dugong, green turtle). Data on these important habitats suffered from historical fragmentation and inaccessibility. Addressing this, we compiled 40 years of survey data between Cape Arnhem (Northern Territory) and the southern Great Barrier Reef, covering 14 seagrass species, >130,000 geolocated sites and 1700 meadows. This historical data is now publicly available. The process highlighted significant knowledge gaps, which are being addressed through modelling seagrass species distributions, using remote sensing data to map and hindcast seagrass condition, compiling historical data from adjacent regions, and building collaborations between researchers, Traditional Owners, rangers and government to conduct on-ground mapping, including in marine parks and Indigenous Protected Areas. This work underscores the importance of detailed spatial data for informed decision-making, with data already used in fish survey design, blue carbon mapping, dugong distribution modelling, healthy country planning and assessing the effectiveness of spatial management. It also provides a foundation for predicting how seagrass species and the animals that depend on seagrass will respond to future disturbances and environmental change.