2021 State of the Environment Report Marine Chapter – Expert Assessment – State and Trend – Inner shelf (0-30 m) – reef fish species

Brief description

The Marine chapter of the 2021 State of the Environment (SoE) report incorporates multiple expert templates developed from streams of marine data. This metadata record describes the Expert Assessment "State and Trend of inner shelf (0-30 m) – reef fish species". ***A PDF of the full Expert Assessment, including figures and tables (where provided) is downloadable in the "On-line Resources" section of this record as "EXPERT ASSESSMENT 2021 - Inner shelf (0-30 m) – reef fish species"*** ---------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES/HABITAT/COMMUNITY/PROCESS FOR EXPERT ASSESSMENT Bony and cartilaginous fish assemblages found on coastal rocky and coral reefs <30 m depth around the Australian continent, including both exploited and unexploited species. DATA STREAM(S) USED IN EXPERT ASSESSMENT Underwater visual census data from Reef Life Survey, the Australian Institute of Marine Science, and the Australian Temperate Reef Collaboration. National synoptic change (mean 2011-2015 period vs mean 2016-2020 period) and 18 long-term monitoring locations spread nationally. See national reefs case study for details. ---------------------------------------- 2021 SOE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY [see attached Expert Assessment for full details] • 2021 • Assessment grade: Poor Assessment trend: Highly variable among species Confidence grade: Adequate Confidence trend: Adequate Comparability: High. This is the second sequential assessment based on standardised quantitative data from the same sources. • 2016 • Assessment grade: Poor Assessment trend: Deteriorating Confidence grade: Adequate high quality evidence and high level of consensus Confidence trend: Adequate high quality evidence and high level of consensus Comparability: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the 2011 assessment • 2011 • Assessment grade: Poor Assessment trend: Stable Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus ---------------------------------------- CHANGES SINCE 2016 SOE ASSESSMENT not supplied

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Statement: QUALITY OF DATA USED IN THE ASSESSMENT
High. Quantitative and standardised data collected using consistent methods by experienced observers.

Notes

Credit
Peer reviews of this assessment were provided by: Mike Emslie (Australian Institute of Marine Science)