The topic for the April meeting was ‘Managing Our Natural Marine Assets’ and the guest speaker was Dr Kim Friedman, Principal Research Scientist (Monitoring) with the WA Marine Monitoring Program (Department of Parks and Wildlife).
Dr Friedman commenced by stating that our coastal beaches and waters play a big part in how we see ourselves and are seen by others. To give you an understanding of just how much, put the words “Western Australia Images” into the search engine on your computer and up will pop a myriad of pictures of our natural landscapes and seascapes. Dr Friedman gave KRMB members further insights into the state of the marine environment and the Department’s efforts to conserve and manage these natural treasures for present and future generations.
“Luckily WA’s marine systems are in good condition” said Dr Friedman, who presented the government actions as forward thinking in getting on the ‘front foot’ in establishing management areas over places of high value. “This is a move that will be gratefully received as pressures on the environment increase going forward”.
Dr Friedman walked the listeners through slides and video that showed WA’s marine environment as highly dynamic and connected. Highlighting that change was a constant, Dr Friedman presented slides on our growing population, our changing climate and how important commerce was across our coastal waters. On a more personal note Dr Friedman showed the changes in the way we engage and use our coastal waters for recreation. As an example of this type of information Dr Friedman highlighted that WA’s growing population had increased by almost 30% since 2000, with WA the fastest growing state in Australia, growing at a much higher rate than the global population.
Dr Friedman explained the need for Parks and Wildlife to be able to continually improve their work practices and conservation outcomes in a changing world. “My job is to help ensure Western Australia’s natural marine assets are conserved and valued, and I assist in this task by presenting marine park managers with information needed to measure and guide their business” he said. As a general rule the most successful businesses are those with the best information, and Dr Friedman coordinates Parks and Wildlife systematic monitoring program that informs work programs of operational effectiveness and efficiency.
Noting the pressures on capacity and resources, he explained how Parks and Wildlife went about prioritising which information was needed, and gave some examples of how coral reefs, seagrass meadows and large fauna were fairing, and what Parks and Wildlife was doing to protect and value these assets. Information collected on the long term welfare of the environment and the pressures they face is documented annually, in the form of reports that consolidate the history of what Parks and Wildlife has learned through time.
As a common thread in the presentation, Dr Friedman encouraged us all to maintain our strong engagement with marine parks and conservation estate across WA. “Our environment is in good condition and it is only through getting parents and kids out there enjoying the natural wonders of WA that its value will truly be appreciated and protected through time” said Dr Friedman. Highlighting the governments investment in marine conservation, with a special focus on the Kimberley, he noted where new marine parks were being established and have joint management with Aboriginal communities, a new and exciting opportunity that will be looked back on in future decades as a particularly insightful initiative. Dr Friedman finished off by urging all WA Naturalist Club members to commend and encourage the government to continue to invest in our natural marine assets and related social values. He finished by saying, “There aren’t many environmental lobbyists, so I encourage you all to visit marine parks more often, get engaged in understanding the challenges we face and to speak up for what you want”.
The talk prompted many questions and comments from the audience, an indication that the topic was one that is close to the hearts of KRMB members.
Colin Prickett