2021 State of the Environment Report Marine Chapter – Expert Assessment – State and Trend – Shallow rocky reefs (<30m)

Researchers: Emma Flukes (Point of contact)

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 shallow rocky reefs (<30m)". ***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 - Shallow rocky reefs (<30m)"*** ---------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION OF HABITAT/COMMUNITY/PROCESS FOR EXPERT ASSESSMENT Assemblages of plants and animals found on inshore shallow rocky reefs <30 m depth in the temperate zone. The primary focus here is on habitats and mobile invertebrates while fishes are covered in other assessments. DATA STREAM(S) USED IN EXPERT ASSESSMENT Underwater visual census data from, Australian Temperate Reef Collaboration (ATRC; https://atrc.org.au/), Parks Victoria subtidal monitoring program and the Reef Life Survey program (RLS; https://reeflifesurvey.com/). Data collected between the years 2008-2020 (inclusive) were reported in the Australia’s changing reefs case study, with data from Jurien Bay, Rottnest Island (WA), Encounter (SA), Port Phillip, Beware Reef and (Vic), Kent Group, SE Tasmania, Maria Island (Tas), Batemans Bay, Jervis Bay, Sydney, and Port Stephens (NSW) the key locations with time series data. ---------------------------------------- 2021 SOE ASSESSMENT SUMMARY [see attached Expert Assessment for full details] • 2021 • Assessment grade: Poor Assessment trend: Deteriorating Confidence grade: Somewhat adequate Confidence trend: Somewhat adequate Comparability: High. This is the second assessment in a row based on standardised quantitative data from the same sources. • 2016 • Assessment grade: Poor Assessment trend: Deteriorating Confidence grade: Limited evidence or limited consensus Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus Comparability: Grade and trend are not comparable to the 2011 assessment • 2011 • Assessment grade: Good Assessment trend: Stable Confidence grade: Adequate high quality evidence and high level of consensus Confidence trend: Limited evidence or limited consensus ---------------------------------------- CHANGES SINCE 2016 SOE ASSESSMENT not supplied

Lineage Statement: QUALITY OF DATA USED IN THE ASSESSMENT Medium to High. Quantitative and standardised data collected using consistent methods by experienced observers, although largely limited to depths of approximately 2-15m and rarely covering the most wave-exposed coastlines.

Lineage

Notes Credit
Peer reviews of this assessment were provided by: Nathan Knott (NSW Department of Primary Industries) Steffan Howe (Parks Victoria)

162.42188,-7.20703 162.42188,-47.46094 102.65625,-47.46094 102.65625,-7.20703 162.42188,-7.20703

132.5390625,-27.333984375

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