The use of available technology to reuse plastic is increased Site-specific logistical support is put in involving remote communities in state-based container deposit schemes (where such schemes are in place). For example, improved trucking/barge backload of recyclables for remote communities. State, Northern Territory and Local Government, with community support Assurance on the environmental suitability of the degradable and compostable plastics available in Australia Updated standards, improved information and labelling related to the development, use and appropriate disposal of degradable and compostable plastics. Australian Government Research is undertaken concerning understanding the full life cycle of any newly developed plastic. Actions for Objective 1 (Contribute to the long-term prevention of the incidence of marine debris) - continued Action Priority/ timeframe Outcome Output Responsibility 1.04 Encourage innovation in recovery and treatment technologies Medium 3 years of the plan entering into effect Informed decisions on the practicalities of waste to energy technologies (at a scale and cost practical for remote Australian conditions) to enable waste material such as recovered ghost nets to be used to generate energy. An assessment of the environmental impact and cost effectiveness of the use of to energy systems in remote coastal communities and at ports is conducted, informed by technologies and innovation programs being undertaken internationally and noting that standards for gasification systems are currently being prepared for the maritime sector. Australian Government
Medium priority ongoing for the life of the plan Better understanding of microplastic outflows and the potential for capture of this material before it enters the environment Innovation grants relating to improved recovery and waste treatment technologies are put in place. States and NT, Australian Governments, with industry and community involvement Actions for Objective 1 (Contribute to the long-term prevention of the incidence of marine debris) - continued Action Priority/ timeframe Outcome Output Responsibility 1.05 Improve management of nets High Priority Review prepared within 2 of the TAP being in place Improved domestic and regional management of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear Australia plays a role in building international solutions on abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear A review of Australia’s engagement on abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear in the Asia Pacific region – with a determination on the appropriateness of current actions. Considerations: the cost effectiveness and environmental impacts of current and potential disposal techniques for discarded, lost and abandoned fishing gear (for example, burning in situ on beaches, transfer to land fill, recycling or potential to energy treatment) assessment of the potential for cost effective alternative materials for nets (ensuring that catches of target species are not reduced) an agreed management process for net incursions into the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone – for example, a permit process (at cost) for entry to retrieve damaged nets Implementation of use of ghost net toolkits developed by the former GhostNets Australia to assess the relative contributions of international and Australian commercial and recreational fishery to the total amount of lost and discarded fishing gear present in the Gulf of Carpentaria, with a view to implementing source reduction planning where possible engagement with countries in the Asia Pacific (particularly the Arafura and Timor Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy
Sea region) and the potential for incentive schemes for return of end of life fishing nets and fishing net leasing arrangements business plans for micro interest loans arrangements for fishing nets (with nets returned at end of life) in regional developing economies marking of fishing gear to enable identification of owners the extent to which current Australian fishing practices comply with FAO preventive methods to avoid and minimize fishing gear becoming abandoned, lost and discarded the potential benefits from Australian Government vessels carrying transponders for attachment to discarded, lost and abandoned fishing gear for tracking and potential retrieval reporting mechanisms. High priority over the life of the plan Less impact globally on marine wildlife resulting from lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear Engagement with best practice international forums on abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear e.g. Committee on Fisheries (COFI), a subsidiary body of the FAO Council. Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, AFMA Actions for Objective 1 (Contribute to the long-term prevention of the incidence of marine debris) - continued Action Priority/ timeframe Outcome Output Responsibility 1.05 Improve management of ghost nets (continued) Low priority, but progressed by 2022 Less impact globally on marine wildlife resulting from lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear Encourage an international forum with fishing gear and materials/plastics industry experts to determine long term solutions on lost and discarded fishing gear. Department of the Environment and Energy CSIRO High priority from 2017 for the life of the plan Less impact on wildlife in domestic waters as a result of recreational fishing Implementation of the national code of practice for recreational fishers (in preparation, expected 2017) in relation to lost and discarded recreational fishing gear and litter. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources All states and NT governments 1.06 Improve shipping management High priority, ongoing for the life of the plan States / NT have legislation relevant to MARPOL in place Ongoing changes to MARPOL are incorporated in state and NT legislation. Enactment of state and NT legislation to mandate provision of waste reception facilities at ports/boating hubs (where this legislation exists). Where this legislation is not in place, consider how this can be encompassed in State/NT legislation and policies. Communication of facilities/services available and waste management options available. All and NT governments Australian Maritime Safety Authority
increasingly relevant. Ocean circulation patterns can concentrate marine debris at certain locations along the coast and within Australian waters. To prioritise protection of species, it is important to understand where these accumulations occur, and their overlap with threatened species distributions and other marine priorities, such as World Heritage Areas, Commonwealth Marine Reserves, Marine Key Ecological Features and Biologically Important Areas. For example, debris along the northern Australian coastline is driven by oceanic currents that circulate in a clockwise gyre, with materials transported into the Gulf of Carpentaria by southeasterly trade winds. This is cause for concern because the waters of the Gulf support important foraging, breeding, and nesting grounds for six of the world's seven marine turtle species (Wilcox et al. 2015a). Actions for Objective 2 (Identify key species, ecological communities and locations impacted by marine debris for priority action). Action Priority/ timeframe Outcome Output Responsibility 2.01 Update the list of marine debris impacted EPBC species, as scientific evidence is published. Medium priority ongoing for the life of the plan Better understanding of the EPBC threatened species most in need of action and protection in relation to marine debris. An annual literature review to maintain an up to date list of EPBC Act threatened species for which the impact of marine debris is clearly demonstrated. TAP team, Department of the Environment and Energy 2.02 Monitor ecological research on marine debris to determine if further EPBC listed ecological communities are threatened by marine debris. Medium priority ongoing for the life of the plan Better understanding of the EPBC Act threatened ecological communities most in need of action and protection in relation to marine debris. An annual literature review to maintain an up to date list of EPBC Act threatened ecological communities for the impact of marine debris is clearly demonstrated. TAP team, Department of the Environment and Energy 2.03 Identify locations within Australian waters major circulation patterns cause aggregations of marine debris High priority – within 3 of the plan entering into effect Better understanding of the locations at which EPBC Act threatened species and ecological communities are most at risk. Correlation of these locations with other priority marine sites (e.g. Commonwealth Marine Reserves, Marine Key Ecological Features) Maps identifying marine debris accumulation sites NESP, Department of the Environment and Energy
4.01 Support beach based clean-up efforts High priority Ongoing for the life of the TAP Funding for ongoing beach clean-up efforts from community groups and Indigenous ranger groups in coastal regions across Australia preventing marine debris returning to the sea Evidence to aid source reduction planning (from clean-up data) continues to build. Removal of marine debris from Australia’s coastal environment. Collected materials reused, recycled or appropriately landfilled Data on the types of marine debris collected in beach based clean-up efforts Australian, state, Territory and local governments. Community groups 4.02 Improve the effectiveness of Australian Government grants in relation to marine debris operations Medium priority Ongoing for the life of the TAP Australian Government grant recipients have increased consideration of marine debris and its impacts Additional data available on marine debris Australian Government grant recipients required to consider litter/marine debris consequences in their projects Australian Government environment grant recipients required to collect data and report on the types and amounts of marine debris removed or observed. Australian Government / Department of the Environment and Energy Actions for Objective 4 (Remove existing marine debris) Action Priority/ timeframe Outcome Output Responsibility 4.03 Removal of derelict fishing gear from Australia’s ocean and coast High priority Ongoing for the life of the TAP Mechanisms for public reporting of ghost nets are improved. Existing data and models contribute to safe, cost efficient removal of ghost nets in the Gulf of Carpentaria Continued collaboration between Australian Border Force, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and Commonwealth Marine Reserves (Parks Australia) in net identification, tagging and removal. from Commonwealth waters across Northern Australia National coordination and an identified single point of contact in relation to survey, intercept and recovery of ghost nets, following advice from Action 1.05 (review of Australia’s engagement) Identified ghost net aggregation sites are targeted for net removal operations (see 2.03) A review of options for fishing gear marking and tracking. Identify ports as cost effective hubs for ghost net disposal and management, particularly in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Removal of nets circulating and accumulating in the Gulf of Carpentaria near to a strategic port e.g. Weipa. Through the TAP team. 4.04 Develop understanding on the potential for biological breakdown of plastic to aid in its removal from the marine environment. Low priority, long term Determine if there are organisms present in the marine environment that could be manipulated to address accumulations of plastic. Strategic use of organisms able to biologically breakdown plastic NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub
for efforts such as Australian Packaging Covenant) Improved ability to conduct source reduction planning 5.02 Maintain a national database for long term marine debris beach survey data and promote standard methodologies for collecting and ongoing monitoring of beach clean-up debris High priority/within 1 year of the TAP entering into effect An accessible information repository for marine debris data Central data reporting through the of Living Australia for all agencies or groups that would like to provide input. Department of the Environment and Energy / NESP working with the of Living Australia 5.03 Enhanced collection of data related to ghost net retrievals from Commonwealth waters across northern Australia Ongoing for the life of the plan Improved ability to conduct source reduction planning in relation to nets Assistance with identification of accumulation for ghost nets Long term datasets on ghost net retrievals from Commonwealth waters across northern Australia, including data on the presence of entangled threatened species. Department of Environment and Energy working with Australian Government and charter vessel operators 5.04 Continue to monitor persistent organic pollutant using plastic resin pellets from Australian beaches High priority for the life of the TAP Publicly available, long term data indicates trends in persistent organic pollutant levels in plastic resin pellets from Australian beaches Comprehensive Australian data included in International Pellet Watch dataset (www.pelletwatch.org) Community, Australian, state and territory government Actions for Objective 5. (Monitor the quantities, origins and hazardous chemical contaminants of marine debris and assess the effectiveness of management arrangements over time for the strategic reduction of debris) Action Priority/ timeframe Outcome Output Responsibility
both the short and long-term implications of continuing to use and dispose of plastic and other materials in their current form, and at the current rate. Increasing understanding of potential marine food chain and human health impacts from microplastic and contaminants could be a major driver of change in consumer behaviour. Actions for Objective 6. Action Priority/ timeframe Outcome Output Responsibility 6.01 Raise the profile of marine debris impacts on listed threatened marine species. High priority, throughout the life of the TAP Community better engaged on the wildlife impacts of consumer products to drive choices that limit marine debris impacts Greater levels of personal responsibility in relation to consumption and management Australian Government social channels (Threatened Species Commissioner, Commonwealth Marine Reserves, Department of the Environment and Energy, NESP, AMSA) to engage the public on marine debris impact and pollution issues through for example: promotion of marine debris problems identified through source reduction planning — such as helium balloons released at celebrations outcomes of research into impacts of marine debris on marine species (including any potential health impacts arising from research into marine microplastic and associated chemical contamination) promotion of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts for marine species impacted by marine debris Department of the Environment and Energy NESP Through existing NGOs, encourage community engagement on marine debris, litter and waste management issues Actions for Objective 6 (Increase public understanding of the causes and impacts of marine debris, including microplastic and hazardous chemical contaminants, in order to bring about behaviour change). Action Priority/ timeframe Outcome Output Responsibility 6.02 Improve public communication in relation to consumer waste and litter Ongoing for the life of the TAP Better awareness of consumer impacts on the marine environment Reinvigorated, nationally consistent communication aimed at preventing litter and improved recycling effort (based around psychological insights into littering behaviour e.g. Spehr and Curnow (2015)) Existing litter campaigns are refocused on: microplastic —emphasising that this material can’t be removed Department of the Environment and Energy, state and territory governments e.g. Keep Australia Beautiful / Clean-up Australia style programs
Appendix A EPBC Act listed species adversely impacted by marine debris Type Common name Scientific name EPBC Act status Identified in key threatening process listing or other reference Turtles Flatback turtle Natator depressus Vulnerable Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing turtle Chelonia mydas Vulnerable Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Hawksbill turtle Eretmochelys imbricata Vulnerable Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Leatherback turtle Dermochelys coriacea Endangered Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta Endangered Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing ridley turtle Lepidochelys olivacea Endangered Marine Migratory Schuyler et. al. (2016) Cetaceans Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus Endangered Cetacean Migratory Identified in KTP listing whale Balaenoptera Cetacean Migratory Department of Environment and Energy (2016) Fin whale Balaenoptera physalus Vulnerable Cetacean Migratory Bannister et al. (1996) Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae Mulnerable Cetacean Migratory Identified in KTP listing, Besseling et al. (2015) Sei whale Balaenoptera borealis Vulnerable Cetacean Migratory Bannister et al. (1996) Southern right whale Eubalaena australis Endangered Cetacean Migratory Identified in KTP listing
Type Common name Scientific name EPBC Act status Identified in key threatening process listing or other reference Sharks Grey nurse shark (west coast population) Carcharias taurus Vulnerable Identified in KTP listing Grey nurse shark (east coast population) Carcharias taurus Critically endangered Identified in KTP listing Silky Shark Carcharhinus falciformis Migratory Filmalter et al. (2013) Birds Antipodean albatross Diomedea exulans antipodensis Vulnerable Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Black-browed albatross Vulnerable Marine Migratory Jiménez et al. (2015) Buller's albatross Thalassarche bulleri Vulnerable Marine Migratory et al. (2016) Gibson’s albatross Diomedea exulans gibsoni Vulnerable Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Grey-headed albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma Endangered Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Indian yellow-nosed albatross Thalassarche carteri Vulnerable Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Northern royal albatross Diomedea epomophora sanfordi Endangered Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Shy albatross Thalassarche cauta Vulnerable Marine Migratory Roman et al. (2016) Southern royal albatross Diomedea epomophora epomophora Vulnerable Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Tristan albatross Diomedea exulans exulans Endangered Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Wandering albatross Diomedea exulans (sensu lato) Vulnerable Marine Migratory Identified in KTP listing Blue petrel Halobaena caerulea Vulnerable Marine Identified in KTP listing