Estuarine and marine

Resource exploration and extraction e.g. oil, gas sand, coral, fish etc. as well as the transport of these resources, although important, places pressures on esturine and marine areas. New energy and water systems and other shoreline industries, bring not only important initiatives in wealth generation, but also a major new set of risks to our waters that will require strategic and regional management.[1]

Nearshore development is proceeding quickly, replacing vegetated landscapes with hard surfaces that interrupt wetland functions and estuarine flows. Land–based sources of pollution and expanding pressure on coastal lands continue to be significant despite strong improvements in land–use planning and the management of many point sources of pollution.[1]

These are just some of the pressures impacting on the Queensland coastline. Find out more through the links below.

Additional information

• GBRMPA position statement on marine debris
• Great Barrier Reef vulnerability assessments
• Oz coasts coastal indicators fact sheets
• Assessment of the Water Quality and Ecosystem Health of the Great Barrier Reef (Australia): Conceptual Models
• Sources of sediment to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area
• Seagrass habitats of Northeast Australia- Models of key processes and controls
• State of the Environment 2011
• Moreton Bay Marine Park Zoning Plan review
• Pressures affecting the marine environment
• State of the Environment Townsville: coasts and marine

References

1. ^ a b c d Australian Government, (2011). State of the Environment - pressures. [online] Available at: http://www.environment.gov.au/soe/2011/summary/marine-environment.html#pressures.

Last updated: 29 January 2016