The Black Rockcod (Epinephelus daemelii) is a large, slow-growing, long-lived reef fish that occurs in Australia along the coast of New South Wales, including at Lord Howe Island. Populations of black rockcod have been significantly reduced here due to overfishing, accidental hooking, and loss or degradation of estuarine and intertidal nursery habitats. As a result, the species is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ under both the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994. Despite having been protected from fishing in NSW since 1983, black rockcod are still taken illegally, or caught incidentally and released, which can lead to mortality post-release from embolism. Its protection status results from concerns of population declines across its range. The NSW Government has identified long-term population monitoring as a a high priority for the species’ recovery plan. Broadscale surveys of black rockcod were first conducted using the diver Underwater Visual Census (UVC) technique in 2009-11 when 83 sites were sampled from Port Stephens to Cook Island in far northern NSW, including the waters of Lord Howe Island. This NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project 3.14 funded the repeat of these broadscale surveys in 2023, with 8 additional sites (91 total) sampled using the same technique. For each black rockcod sighting, the length of the fish was visually estimated by divers, and also filmed using a diver stereo camera system where possible to obtain an exact length measurement. Other attributes recorded included the habitat the fish was found in, if the sighting was cryptic (i.e. hidden or camouflaged), and the depth of the sighting. Based on the broadscale survey sites in 2009-11, a subset of 19 key Black rockcod survey sites along mainland NSW were established These comprised of two sites in the Cape Byron Marine Park (CBMP), five sites in the Solitary Islands Marine Park (SIMP) two sites at SW Rocks (Fish Rock), and ten sites within the Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park (PSGLMP). An additional 18 key sites were established at Lord Howe Island (LHIMP) and surveyed in 2011, 2019, 2023 & 2024. These surveys involved an identical methodology to the broadscale surveys, but without the use of stereo cameras as diver estimates of fish size were shown to be reasonably similar. This NESP MaC Hub project 3.14 provided funding for the resurveying of the 37 total key sites (where weather permitted) in both 2023 and 2024. The data provided by this record includes: (1) all black rockcod sightings and measurements for broadscale sites (2023) and key sites (2023 & 2024); (2) a comparison of the counts of black rockcod recorded at broadscale sites in 2009-11 (n=83) and again in 2023 (n=91); and (3) a comparison of the count of black rockcod recorded at key monitoring sites in northern NSW (n=19) and Lord Howe Island (n=18) across monitoring years 2009-2024.

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub small-scale study - "A photo-identification study of southern right whales to update aggregation area classification in the southwest of Australia". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- The population of Southern Right Whales (SRW) in the Southern Hemisphere has been recovering slowly from near extinction due to its decimation from whaling before its ban in the mid-1970’s. The population that visits the Australian coast each year to breed is estimated to have increased by about 4–5% per year in the past two decades, bringing the total population to approximately 3,500 whales. As the population increases, the whales extend their breeding areas into previously occupied suitable habitat. As the species recovers, there is increasing evidence of expansion of aggregation areas. Consequently, there is a need to update known established aggregation areas and Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) and update relevant Marine Parks management plans based on new evidence. Flinders Bay and Geographe Bay off south-western Western Australia were likely to have been important calving areas before commercial whaling began. Much of this habitat is popular for recreational boating and other marine activities. This project collated and completed photo-ID matching of southern right whale images collected between 2010 to 2020 in the southwest of Australia, and uploaded these to the Australasian Right Whale Photo-Identification Catalogue (ARWPIC). The photo-ID matching outcomes provide evidence that Flinders Bay and Geographe Bay now fit the criteria to be recognised nationally as Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) for Southern Right Whales. Outputs • Photo-identifications of individual whales in southwestern Australia for 1991-2021 (photo-matches contributed to ARWPIC) • Final Project Report, including evidence and recommendations for updating aggregation area classification in the southwest of Australia according to the Commonwealth criteria [written]

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub project "Aerial survey of the Southern Right Whale 'western' sub-population off southern Australia". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Southern right whales are listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and are a species of national conservation significance. Monitoring of their recovery is guided by the Southern Right Whale Conservation Management Plan, which aims to improve the population’s conservation status through regular assessment of population size, calving intervals, and spatial trends. This project continued the long-term aerial survey program of southern right whales along the southern Australian coast, spanning from Perth (WA) to Ceduna (SA). Annual surveys have been conducted since 1993, providing a continuous long-term dataset for the 'western' population and supporting national assessments of connectivity with the smaller ‘eastern’ population. The surveys contribute essential data on population trends, calving rates, and movements of individuals. The August 2022 aerial survey ensured an uninterrupted time series in the long-term population trend data. This is particularly important given the species' non-annual breeding cycle (typically every three years). Annual surveys are essential to maintain an acceptable level of precision in estimating population trends and key life history parameters. A total of 526 whales were recorded, including 247 cow–calf pairs, 31 unaccompanied adults and one yearling. Based on long-term models, this equated to a population estimate of approximately 2,675 individuals, with an average annual growth rate of ~5.3%. While this represents a continued population growth, results suggest a possible slowing in the rate of growth over the past 13 years (from 7.5% in 2009). The 2022 survey also recorded the lowest number of unaccompanied animals in the entire time series, extending a five-year trend of low sightings in this group. Continued monitoring of the population is needed to assess whether these changes represent longer-term shifts in population dynamics and calving intervals, and to inform adaptive management for this long-lived, slow-recovering species. Outputs • Estimate of relative abundance and population trend compared to long-term aerial survey sightings [dataset] • Individual whale photo-identification data - 2021-22 season [imagery - published to ARWPIC] • Final technical report detailing overall numbers of southern right whales observed within the survey region, their gender (and life stage where possible) and spatial distribution of individuals [written]

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub small-scale study - "Conservation of spotted handfish". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Spotted Handfish (Brachionichthys hirsutus) were once common across the bays and estuaries of South-eastern Tasmania. By 1996, however, populations had declined and the species was listed as Critically Endangered under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The species is relatively short-lived, (5–10 years) and matures at more than two years’ old. This leaves a short window for reproduction, which relies on egg masses laid on seafloor structures such as stalked ascidians. If spawning fails, population declines may occur rapidly. With no planktonic life stage to aid dispersal, and low adult dispersal, outside recruitment to re-establish collapsed populations is unlikely. Analysis of 23 years of Spotted Handfish survey data (1997–2019) supported by previous NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub work (Project A10) helped develop a time-series of survey data, increasing biological understanding and contributing to effective management actions. This project recommenced surveys of multiple local populations, after a two-year gap, to ensure that the potential impacts of development of the Derwent estuary and surrounds handfish populations or their habitats can be detected. Included in the population surveying was identification of suitable locations to plant Artificial Spawning Habitats (ASH) where natural spawning structures have declined. This will continue to support the species' captive breeding program with industry and foster engagement with the indigenous and broader community through participation, talks, outreach, publications, and the National Handfish Recovery Team (NHRT). Outputs • A consolidated database of all available data on spotted handfish imagery, length frequency, and GPS regions to 2022 [time-series database] • Final Project Report, including a short summary of recommendations for policy makers of key findings [written]

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub small-scale study - "Australia’s Coastal Shorebirds: Trends and Prospects". No data outputs were generated by this project. -------------------- Coastal Australia is home to 37 regularly occurring migratory shorebird species, with many protected areas including Ramsar sites designated on the basis of shorebird populations. Many migratory shorebirds are declining rapidly, and hence the focus of conservation efforts at multiple levels of government in Australia and overseas. However, trend data are now nearly 10 years old, meaning the information available to assess where conservation actions are needed most urgently and whether conservation efforts are helping species recover are outdated. To ensure populations have the best chance at recovery and that resources are allocated where they are most likely to have the greatest positive impacts, it is critical to maintain up-to-date information on species trends. This project analysed 30 years of shorebird monitoring data collected by citizen science groups across Australia and curated by BirdLife Australia’s National Shorebird Monitoring Program to update national trend estimates, while also assessing the relative effects of human pressure and conservation efforts on population trends. In particular, it focused on 15 migratory shorebird species whose conservation status was being reassessed by the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. This project sets the stage for building the next decade of coastal shorebird conservation activity in Australia, coordinated through the national mechanism of the End User: National Migratory Shorebird Conservation Action Plan Steering Committee, with representatives from national and state governments as well as leading shorebird experts. Outputs • Fact Sheet on Australia's coastal shorebird trends and prospects [written] • Final Project Report, including a short summary of recommendations for policy makers of key findings [written]

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub bridging study - "A photo-identification study of southern right whales to update aggregation area classification in the southwest of Australia". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- The southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is listed as Endangered under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and is subject to conservation listings in five Australian states due to severe population declines caused by historical whaling. The Southern Right Whale Conservation Management Plan 2011–2021 outlines the current status of, and threats to, the southern right whale in Australian waters and prioritises recovery actions during this period. The long-term vision for the recovery of this species in Australian waters is to increase the population size to a level that the conservation status improves, and the species no longer qualifies for listing as threatened under any of the EPBC Act listing criteria. The plan must be periodically updated to reflect new knowledge and prioritise the research needed to monitor population recovery and predict the impacts of threats such as climate change. Aerial surveys of southern right whales have been conducted across the southern Australian coast from Perth (W.A.) to Ceduna (S.A.) since 1993, as part of a long-term program to monitor the recovery, and inform the Conservation Management Plan (2011-2021), for this Endangered species. In Australia’s south-east, there has been little sign of recovery in southern right whale numbers following intense commercial whaling. A working hypothesis assumes separation between the ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ populations, largely due to loss of ‘cultural memory’ of whales migrating to the eastern range breeding areas. Given the relative paucity of animals that visit the southern Australian coast in areas other than south-west Australia, the western population is considered to represent the majority of the ‘Australian’ southern right whale population. The count data from these aerial surveys provide data on population trend and estimates of population size for the ‘western’ population, and hence the majority of the Australian southern right whales. Associated photo-identification data provide life history information (such as calving intervals) and connectivity between the ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ populations and contribute to the national southern right whale photo-id database: the Australasian Right Whale Photo-Identification Catalogue (ARWPIC). The 2020 aerial survey program recorded substantially lower numbers of whales than in the previous 13 years, and the lowest number of non-calving whales since the program started. This project conducted new aerial surveying in August 2021 to provide a relative estimate of annual population size for determining longer term population trends and contribute to determining if 2020 was an anomalous year or an indicator of some longer-term change to recent recovery rates and the female breeding cycle. Outputs • Aerial whale survey data (counts by size class, number, and location) - 2021-22 season [dataset] • Individual whale photo-identification data - 2021-22 season [imagery - published to ARWPIC] • Final Project Report including a short summary of recommendations for policy makers of key findings [written]

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2023 project "Monitoring, aggregation areas and approaches to improve data effectiveness for southern right whale conservation". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Southern right whales are listed as Endangered under the EPBC Act and are recovering slowly from historical whaling. In Australia, recovery differs between the growing western population and the more poorly understood eastern population, where available data are largely opportunistic. Improved abundance estimates, photo-identification workflows, aggregation-area assessment, and understanding of connectivity are needed to support conservation management. This project delivered priority information for southern right whale conservation through four linked components: (1) long-term aerial surveys of the western population; (2) expansion and integration of photo-identification datasets within the Australian Right Whale Photo-Identification Catalogue (ARWPIC); (3) development of statistical approaches to combine opportunistic and systematic observations; and (4) collection of movement and genomic data to assess connectivity between eastern and western subpopulations. The project continued annual aerial surveys from Perth to Ceduna to update abundance trends and reproductive parameters for the western population. Photo-identification images and metadata were collated from archived, targeted, and opportunistic sources across eastern and western aggregation areas, supporting matching of individual whales, assessment of reproductive areas, and estimation of population parameters. The project also developed methods to expand the use of opportunistic sightings data alongside systematically collected observations, improving capacity to estimate population size, trends, recovery rates, residency, site fidelity, and connectivity. Movement, photo-identification, and genomic data collected near the boundary of the eastern and western subpopulations, particularly around Encounter Bay and adjacent waters, supported assessment of population structure, whale movements, habitat use, and potential exposure to human activities. The outputs of this project support updates to the national Southern Right Whale Conservation Management Plan, Biologically Important Area (BIA) mapping, marine park management, and risk assessments for marine industries and tourism. Consultation and engagement with Indigenous groups in South Australia and Western Australia enabled communication of research goals and findings, supported knowledge sharing, and identified opportunities for collaboration and capacity building linked to southern right whale conservation. Outputs • Individual whale photo-identifications in aggregation areas [ARWPIC image catalogue] • Aerial survey data for 2023, 2024, 2026 [dataset] • Exposure to single and cumulative threats [dataset] • Whale tracking tracking, behaviour, and dive data [dataset] • Final project report [written]

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2023 project "Eastern Grey Nurse Shark population abundance and trend". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- Grey nurse sharks are a nationally significant threatened species, with Australia’s eastern population listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act. The Recovery Plan for the Grey Nurse Shark identifies the need for robust estimates of abundance, population trend, age structure, survival and range, particularly where conservation measures such as spatial closures and protection of aggregation sites are in place. This project refined abundance and trend estimates for the eastern Australian grey nurse shark population by combining biopsy sampling, genetic analysis, stereo-video length measurement and statistical modelling. Tissue samples from more than 300 sharks were analysed using close-kin mark-recapture methods to identify family relationships and estimate adult population size. Stereo-video measurements supported improved age estimation using Australian-specific length-at-age models, reducing reliance on overseas growth data. Findings from the project provide a stronger evidence base for Australian and New South Wales government decision-making on grey nurse shark recovery and conservation. Refined estimates of adult abundance and population trend (described in the Final Project Report) enables reduced uncertainty in recovery assessments, and supports evaluation of current management arrangements, including spatial protections for aggregation sites. Outputs • Final project report [written]

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2023 project "Delineation and estimation of the Maugean skate population in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania". No public data outputs are planned for this project. -------------------- The Maugean skate (Zearaja maugeana) is now only found in Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania’s west coast, which has a long history of environmental degradation. The species is listed as Endangered under Commonwealth and Tasmanian legislation, and its restricted distribution, small population size, and exposure to degraded environmental conditions make population monitoring a high conservation priority. Recent research suggests that the Macquarie Harbour population may be declining. However, existing abundance estimation methods are inadequate because the species is cryptic, capture-based methods pose risks to skate health, and conventional optical surveys are limited by the harbour’s shallow, stratified, and highly turbid conditions. This project developed and tested new approaches to estimate and monitor the Maugean skate population using next-generation genetic sequencing and novel imaging technologies. Non-invasive acoustic methods (adaptive resolution imaging sonar (ARIS), synthetic aperture sonar, performed better than optical approaches (LiDAR, conventional video), under Macquarie Harbour conditions. ARIS was identified as the most suitable image-based monitoring tool for future population surveys. The genetic component generated the first reference-quality whole and mitochondrial genomes for the species and sequenced samples from 162 individuals. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses showed that the Macquarie Harbour population has very low genetic diversity, which may influence how genetic risks are interpreted in recovery planning. The project produced new monitoring methodologies, genomic reference resources, and population genetic datasets to support future monitoring of Maugean skate abundance, population structure, and genetic health. The findings will inform conservation planning and evaluation of recovery strategies including captive breeding, translocation, and long-term genetic monitoring under changing environmental conditions. Outputs • Tissue sampling results and genome-wide population genetic structure [dataset] • Final project report [written]

This record provides an overview of the NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Research Plan 2023 project "Assessing changes in black rockcod abundance and size". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata. -------------------- The black rockcod (Epinephelus daemelii) is a long-lived, reef-dwelling species listed as Vulnerable under Commonwealth and NSW legislation. In Australia it occurs along the coast of New South Wales, including at Lord Howe Island. Although protected from fishing in NSW since 1983, the species is vulnerable to illegal take, incidental capture, barotrauma-related mortality, and degradation of nursery habitats. Long-term monitoring is a high priority for assessing whether recovery actions and spatial protections are improving population status. This project repeated the broadscale baseline survey of black rockcod across northern NSW and Lord Howe Island, extending a monitoring program that began in 2009–2011 and included smaller key-site surveys every four to five years. Divers surveyed reef sites, photographed and filmed individual fish, recorded habitat and depth, and estimated fish lengths, including with stereo-video where possible. Additional local field capability was built through Indigenous engagement and community-based monitoring activities. These survey outputs contributed to a 15-year time series (2009-2024) on abundance, occupancy, size structure, habitat associations, and spatial distribution of black rockcod. The results indicated continued low abundance across the species’ surveyed range, while also identifying larger mature individuals and higher abundances in some no-take sanctuary zones. The long-term dataset provided evidence for assessing recovery actions and sanctuary zone effectiveness, informs future monitoring priorities, and supports potential reassessment of the species’ threatened status. Outputs • Black rockcod underwater visual census (UVC) data [dataset] • Final project report [written]