Turning a lost reef ecosystem into a national restoration program

Dominic McAfee; Ian M McLeod; Heidi K Alleway; Melanie J Bishop; Simon Branigan; Sean D Connell; Craig Copeland; Christine M Crawford; Ben K Diggles; James A Fitzsimons; Ben Gilby; Paul Hamer; Boze Hancock; Robert Pearce; Kylie Russell; Chris L Gillies

doi:10.1111/cobi.13958

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Turning a lost reef ecosystem into a national restoration program

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Turning a lost reef ecosystem into a national restoration program

Dominic McAfee, Ian M McLeod, Heidi K Alleway, Melanie J Bishop, Simon Branigan, Sean D Connell, Craig Copeland, Christine M Crawford, Ben K Diggles, James A Fitzsimons, …

Conservation Biology, Vol.36(6), pp.1-10

2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13958

PMCID: PMC10087571

PMID: 35621094

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Abstract

environmental management

ecosystem restoration

marine policy

oyster reef

shellfish habitat

Achieving a sustainable socio-ecological future now requires large-scale environmental repair actioned across legislative borders. Yet, enabling large-scale conservation is complicated by policy-making processes that grapple with a disconnect between socio-economic interests and political priorities, multiple sources of knowledge, and differing applications of policy. In this paper, we describe how a multi-disciplinary approach to marine habitat restoration generated the scientific evidence-base, community support, and funding needed to begin the restoration of forgotten, functionally extinct shellfish reef ecosystems as a nationally actionable solution for improving marine biodiversity and productivity. This case shows that galvanising multi-sector support for widespread ecosystem repair can rapidly occur when socially-valued science acts upon political opportunities. We describe the key actors and actions undertaken to build a case for establishing Australia's largest marine restoration initiative. We review the complexities that led to state and national funding for reef restoration to meet sustainability goals, so that lessons can be disseminated and replicated elsewhere.

Details

Title: Turning a lost reef ecosystem into a national restoration program
Authors: Dominic McAfee (Corresponding Author) - The University of Adelaide
Ian M McLeod (Author) - James Cook University
Heidi K Alleway (Author) - The University of Adelaide
Melanie J Bishop (Author) - Macquarie University
Simon Branigan (Author) - The Nature Conservancy (Australia)
Sean D Connell (Author) - The University of Adelaide
Craig Copeland (Author) - OzFish Unlimited (Ballina, NSW, Australia)
Christine M Crawford (Author) - University of Tasmania
Ben K Diggles (Author) - DigsFish Services (Australia)
James A Fitzsimons (Author) - Deakin University
Ben Gilby (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Paul Hamer (Author) - Victorian Fisheries Authority - VFA (Melbourne, Australia)
Boze Hancock (Author) - University of Rhode Island
Robert Pearce (Author) - Albert Park Yachting & Angling Club (Australia)
Kylie Russell (Author) - NSW Department of Primary Industries (Menangle, Australia)
Chris L Gillies (Author) - James Cook University
Publication details: Conservation Biology, Vol.36(6), pp.1-10
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
Date published: 2022
DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13958
ISSN: 1523-1739
PMID: 35621094; PMC10087571
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99640274302621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Industry collaboration; Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Biodiversity Conservation; Ecology; Environmental Sciences

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