Chapter 6 - Management of Megafauna in Estuaries and Coastal Waters: Moreton Bay as a Case Study

Abstract

Whilst human populations and urban development adjacent to estuaries continue to grow around the world, pressures are increasing on the marine megafauna (marine mammals, reptiles, and birds) within those coastal ecosystems, sometimes with calamitous consequences. Protecting marine wildlife in the context of this pressure requires an integrated approach that combines protective legislation, management of water quality, identification and protection of critical habitat (marine protected areas), identification and reduction of direct stressors to target species, and health monitoring programs for individuals and entire populations. In this chapter, we examine how well marine megafauna is protected in Moreton Bay, an urbanized embayment on the east coast of Australia. Moreton Bay still supports relatively abundant populations of turtles, dolphins, and dugongs, and provides seasonal habitat for visiting whales and shorebirds, despite a significant and growing human population.