Improving socio-ecological understanding of natural values in Australian Marine Parks

The approach to managing AMPs is set out in eight management plans, one for each of the five marine park networks (North, North-west, South-west, South-east and Temperate East) and one each for the Coral Sea Marine Park, Christmas Island Marine Park and Cocos (Keeling) Islands Marine Park. A statutory review of AMP management plans for the North, North-west, South-west, Temperate-East networks and the Coral Sea Marine Park is scheduled for 2028.

This project aims to progress the use of socio-economic information to support the management of and contribute to the review of Australian Marine Parks (AMPs). It will build on previous research funded by the National Environmental Science Program (NESP) to redevelop socio-economic benchmarks to support Parks Australia’s new sentinel park approach and network scale reporting. This involves estimating changes in public awareness, attitudes, and usage patterns since 2019/20.

Approach

Past and present NESP-funded research contributes to understanding the status and trend of natural values and socio-economic values and benchmarks across AMP networks (see the topic Protected place management). In collaboration with NESP researchers, Parks Australia has developed a management effectiveness system that relies on collecting data and reporting on relevant values, uses and pressures occurring in AMPs with a focus on sentinel parks (AMPs earmarked for intensive monitoring).

This project will redesign a repeatable national knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) boat ramp survey developed in a previous Marine and Coastal Hub project. The survey targets recreational fishers and non-fishers who use AMPS around Australia, including priority parks regularly accessed by recreational users. Nine survey locations will be selected in collaboration with Parks Australia to provide essential information for park and network scale estimates of recreational fishing use. A redesigned national general public survey will explore broader community views towards the AMP network, including attitudes to AMP management zones. Both surveys will enable changes since 2019/2020 to be assessed and address key questions for the 2028 management plan review.

Surveys are likely to cover the Coral Sea, North, North-west, South-west, South-east and Temperate East networks, with consideration given to sentinel parks.

Expected outcomes

• The updated survey design and sampling regime will provide Parks Australia with a comprehensive socio-economic benchmark for AMPs that helps to clarify links between natural values management and social and economic outcomes.
• The updated survey data will provide crucial insights into changes in public awareness, attitudes, and use patterns within the AMPs since 2019/20.
• The updated benchmark, combined with natural values data, will strengthen the management effectiveness system, informing the 2028 AMP management plan review and contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the benefits and changing values of the parks.

Further reading

• Best-practice manual for social surveys: gathering our thoughts on marine parks
• Behavioural research reshapes the Reef Authority’s communication with recreational fishers

Project location