Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641:body:0:p49
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2017L00641
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 158005–163545

globally. In the interim, it is necessary to identify and monitor stocks at high risk from changes in ambient temperatures (sand and water), sea level, frequency of extreme weather events, ocean circulation and acidification. Where climate change effects are deemed to be having an impact on stock viability, impacts should be mitigated utilising an adaptive management approach. Appropriate monitoring must be undertaken to evaluate and modify management actions to ensure efficacy. Areas for turtle range expansion should be recognised to build refugia, resilience and capacity to adapt within the environment and afforded some measure of protection. Knowledge gaps to be filled in relation to climate change impacts on marine turtles include, but are not limited to: resilience of stocks to environmental change; time required for adaptation; and capacity for physiological adaptation.
Responsible agencies and potential partners: Australian Government, state and territory governments, research institutions, industry partners and relevant non-government organisations.
Within the life of this plan
Measure of success: Australia continues its commitment to mitigate climate change. Measures required to help stocks adaptively manage impacts from to climate change are better understood. Areas for range expansion and refugia are identified and protected.
Risks: Actions at the global scale are not sufficient to affect the current rate of climate change.
Likelihood of success: Moderate

Action Area A3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Number of stocks with threat rated as 'very high' or 'high'
Reduce the impacts from marine debris                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           8
4
Action
    * Maintain and expand international and domestic partnership arrangements for the source reduction, collection and management of marine debris.
    * Compare marine debris hotspots with important foraging areas, post hatchling dispersal and adult migratory pathways to identify high priority areas for mitigation to reduce turtle/debris interactions.
    * Genetic samples are taken from animals caught in ghost nets.
    * Describe and quantify the impact of ingestion of debris on marine turtles, particularly those life phases using the open ocean.
    * Support the implementation of the EPBC Act Threat Abatement Plan for the impacts of marine debris on vertebrate marine life.
Recovery targets addressed                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Threats to be mitigated
1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1,3.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     B
Description
Given the costs and challenges associated with clean up of marine debris, the primary approach to management must be source reduction. Clean-up initiatives are still necessary to reduce existing onshore and offshore marine debris, to prevent waste re-entering the marine environment. There is scope to build collaboration or expand on any regional partnership arrangements between communities and industry in the more remote areas in Australia. International engagement, as well as domestic programs, are necessary to achieve a reduction in discarded fishing gear, other marine debris, plastics and microplastics entering the environment.
Ghost net hot spots and turtle habitat use are known