Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00070:body:0:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025L00070
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 34921–37987

range of priorities and actions that will be taken to address pressures and Chapter 4 outlines how different activities will be managed in the marine park in the context of these pressures. However, the Director also recognises that management actions will need to adjust to changes in pressures and drivers over time to ensure optimal protection of the marine park and its values.

     1.      Climate and environmental change

The impacts of climate change on the marine environment are complex and may include longer lasting marine heatwaves, continued rise in sea level, further ocean acidification, changes to ocean currents, altered storm frequency and intensity, and species range extensions or local extinctions. These multifaceted changes have the potential to significantly impact on marine park values. Moreover, climate changes will intricately interact with and amplify many non-climate threats to marine park values.

Coral reefs in Christmas Island Marine Park are under pressure from increasing water temperatures and extreme heat events, which cause coral bleaching. Physical features and microclimates which provide short-term refuges and longer term refugia for some climate-sensitive species will play an important role in protecting species. While hard corals have demonstrated some resilience to heat stress and ability to regenerate after significant storm damage, these pressures are predicted to increase into the future. Consequently, the fringing coral reef ecosystem in Christmas Island Marine Park is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – especially because the steep slope limits the amount of habitat in each trophic layer.

The bleaching of coral reefs in Christmas Island Marine Park could have ripple effects on species, such as reef fish, that are dependent on these habitats. For example, coral bleaching could reduce the amount of suitable habitat for species to occupy. Highly mobile species ranges are likely to expand as they track their climatic preferences in search of suitable habitats, causing an increased likelihood of non-native and marine invasive species occupying novel marine environments. This, in turn, may lead to variations in species abundance, distribution and diversity, resulting in changes in food chain interactions and potential shifts in the community structure within marine environments. The isolation of Christmas Island will also limit species' ability to move ranges in line with their climatic preferences, increasing the likelihood of local extinctions. The timing and intensity of natural events, including cyclones and storms, may be altered, impacting the marine environment's ability to recover through changes in demography and regeneration. These environmental changes could have flow-on effects for the cultural, social and economic values of the marine park by affecting populations of culturally significant species, impacting cultural fishing traditions or causing declines in ecosystems that are popular attractions for tourists and valued by the community.

These changes to