Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389:body:0:p22
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2015L01389
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 62098–66782

of the park. Monitoring of marine habitats needs to be long term so that effects of natural disturbances such as cyclones, outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish or El Niño events, may be accurately recorded, and to help assess the impacts of fishing in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands region.
Although the research priorities identified in the previous plan were largely achieved and helped to assess the status of island biodiversity, securing funding and in-kind support for continued monitoring and research and implementing research recommendations remain relevant issues.
The Ecological Character Description for the Pulu Keeling National Park Ramsar Site (Hale 2010) recommended a number of actions necessary to identify indicator species for monitoring, and specific monitoring recommendations in relation to vegetation, invasive species, invertebrates, birds and marine species (see Table 1).
Table 1:  Ramsar monitoring needs for Pulu Keeling National Park
Component/process             Purpose                                                                                                                                                              Indicator                                                                                      Locations                      Frequency        Priority
Vegetation – extent           Identified knowledge gap. Although there is no Limit of Acceptable Change for vegetation, survey data can inform on condition and extent of major vegetation types.  Extent of broad vegetation types (pisonia, coconut, ironwood, octopus bush) by remote sensing  Entire Ramsar site             Every 5 years    Medium
                              This could be used as an indicator for seabird habitat in management planning.
Weeds                         Determination of impact                                                                                                                                              Identifying and determining extent of weeds by land survey                                     Entire Ramsar site             Annual           Low

Yellow crazy ants             Determination of impact                                                                                                                                              Abundance; presence of scale insects                                                           Pisonia forest                 Every 2 years    High

Marine invertebrates – coral  Assessment against Limit of Acceptable Change                                                                                                                        Coral extent and health                                                                        Existing Bunya coral site      Annual           High

Fish                          Establishment of indicator species, and baseline on which a Limit of Acceptable Change can be developed.                                                             Abundance and community composition                                                            Reef                           Every 2–5 years  Moderate

Waterbirds                    Assessment against Limit of Acceptable Change                                                                                                                        Counts and species identifications; breeding observations                                      Atoll                          Annual           High

Marine turtles                Assessment against Limit of Acceptable Change                                                                                                                        Nesting surveys                                                                                Northern and southern beaches  Annual           Moderate

Source: Hale 2010 Ecological Character Description for Pulu Keeling National Park: Note: These priorities do not represent or detail all monitoring requirements for the park.
Efforts during the life of the previous plan significantly contributed to filling some of these gaps, and extension of current ongoing monitoring may need to be considered to satisfy some additional requirements. Research proposals for the park will be guided towards these areas of priority, where feasible.
Under the EPBC Regulations (r.12.10) research may not be undertaken in the park unless it is provided for by, and carried out in accordance with, this plan. Research that involves killing, injuring, taking, trading, keeping or moving native species or is undertaken for commercial purposes is prohibited by ss.354 and 354A of the EPBC Act except in accordance with