GSR Webinar recording from Friday 11th May
What is the GSR?
The Great Southern Reef (GSR) is an interconnected system of temperate rocky reefs dominated by kelp forests. It spans over 8000kms along the entire southern half of Australia from Kalbarri to Coolangatta. The GSR is a global hotspot for marine biodiversity and endemic species, hosts the highest diversity of seaweeds on Earth (>1000 species) and is one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. GSR kelp forests produce 65 tonnes of biomass per hectare per year.
“There is enormous untapped potential for coastal and marine tourism and marketing in regional Australia.”
Opportunities
Growth in reef tourism enriches the economic wellbeing of Australia's regional communities. New seaweed industries can tap into reef resources to deliver sustainable benefits, and growing seaweed can build reef health and clean up coastal environments. Commercial fisheries targeting pest and range-extending species can deliver co-benefits to the reef's health and regional economies.
Challenges
Ocean warming and marine heatwaves are causing the loss of kelp forests at alarming rates. In 2011 alone, 960,000 hectares of kelp forest were lost in Western Australia. 95% of giant kelp has disappeared from Tasmania. Warm water species are moving south, causing tropicalisation and transforming reefs. For example, long-spined sea-urchins are responsible for the collapse of 3% of reefs in Tasmania in 2001, 15% by 2016 and a projected 50% by 2030 at current rates. Human population growth along the GSR is putting increasing pressure on fish stocks, causing coastal runoff and eutrophication of reefs.
“Ocean warming and marine heatwaves are causing the loss of kelp forests at alarming rates.”
The Issue
Ocean warming and marine heatwaves are causing the loss of kelp forests at alarming rates. In 2011 alone, 960,000 hectares of kelp forest were lost in Western Australia. 95% of giant kelp has disappeared from Tasmania. Warm water species are moving south, causing tropicalisation
and transforming reefs. For example, long-spined sea-urchins are responsible for the collapse of 3% of reefs in Tasmania in 2001, 15% by 2016 and a projected 50% by 2030 at current rates. Human population growth along the GSR is putting increasing pressure on fish stocks, causing coastal runoff and eutrophication of reefs.
What is needed
The Great Southern Reef needs to be put on Australia's political agenda. Investment is needed by government (e. $535m in 2018 to Great Barrier Reef Foundation) to raise the national profile of the Great Southern Reef and equip regional Australia with information and resources necessary to attract investment and benefit sustainably from GSR. Further investment in research could support a systematic national audit of the social-ecological value of the GSR.
“Regional Australia needs to be equipped with information and resources necessary to attract investment and benefit sustainably from Great Southern Reef.”