Challenges of managing migratory megafauna in a large marine jurisdiction: Lessons for the Coral Triangle

Managing the threats to marine migratory species is difficult, even within the same country, as animal movements often span large areas and are unconstrained by jurisdictional boundaries. In Australia, a country with an... [ view full abstract ]

Managing the threats to marine migratory species is difficult, even within the same country, as animal movements often span large areas and are unconstrained by jurisdictional boundaries. In Australia, a country with an Economic Exclusion Zone comprised of approximately 10 million square kilometres of ocean, marine governance is encompassed by federal and state governments. However, such multi-government systems require complementary legislation, particularly when managing large marine migratory species. We conducted an analysis of Australian policy and management plans protecting six species of marine turtles, dugongs, humpback whales, and 27 species of non-threatened migratory shorebirds. Our analysis identified biases towards larger, charismatic megafauna, such as marine turtles and dugongs, in statutory policy instruments. Smaller species, such as migratory shorebirds, were often protected by non-statutory environmental management plans. Further, our analysis highlighted a disconnect between policy instruments operating at different governance levels. Species-specific biases combined with the disconnect of policy instruments between governance levels emphasises the need for coordinated and cooperative governance to protect marine migratory megafauna in Australia. We propose the introduction of an overarching conceptual framework for managing marine migratory species as one solution for promoting cooperative governance and remedying the communication gap in Australia. These findings have broader global application to other large marine governance systems, such as the Coral Triangle (a marine system comprised of approximately six million square kilometres of ocean), which is home to threatened marine migratory species and is a region governed by multiple national and state level governments.