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United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development

eReefs catchment and coastal fore casting and satellite based monitoring of the Great Barrier Reef

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Government
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#OceanAction41052
    Description
    Description
    The eReefs project is a multi-year, multi-partner project that uses satellite derived water quality observations, as well as numerical model simulations of the catchments that flow into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and the fate of pollutants once they reach the GBR lagoon. This submission deals only with the components of the project delivered by the Bureau of Meteorology which consist of three components.

    The first is an operational OGC compliant data service and portal to access a range of water quality parameters including chlorophyll-a, sediments, coloured dissolved organic matter, light attenuation and sea surface temperature. Data is published each day from the latest satellite pass and can be accessed through a range of maps, graphs and statistics. The sediment and nutrient values are used in the GBR Report Card to describe the health of the GBR.

    The second component is a series of hydrologic and statistical models to forecast both the quantity and quality of the water that runs off the catchments and enters the GBR lagoon. The final component is a hydrodynamic model that covers the entire GBR and stretches from Papua New Guinea along the east coast of Queensland and out into the Coral Sea.

    Any one the these components provides useful insights for managing coastal regions, however the outstanding universal values of the Great Barrier Reef support the significant investment in developing and integrating all three systems.
    Partners
    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (Government), Australian Institute of Marine Science (Government), Queensland Government (Government), Great Barrier Reef Foundation (Non-governmental Organisation).

    Goal 14

    Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

    Goal 14

    14.1

    By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

    14.1.1

    (a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

    14.2

    By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

    14.2.1

    Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

    14.3

    Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

    14.3.1
    Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

    14.4

    By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

    14.4.1
    Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

    14.5

    By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

    14.5.1
    Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

    14.6

    By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

    14.6.1

    Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

    14.7

    By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

    14.7.1

    Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

    14.a

    Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

    14.a.1
    Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

    14.b

    Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

    14.b.1

    Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

    14.c

    Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

    14.c.1

    Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

    Name Description
    14.a Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
    14.c Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"
    An operational, publicly accessible data service and portal to deliver satellite derived water quality parameters across the entire GBR region
    An operationally ready catchment water quantity forecasting system that will deliver streamflow forecasts out to three days for 25 catchments which drain to the GBR lagoon.
    A research grade, routinely operated, data assimilating hydrodynamic forecasting system, incorporating coastal scale processes such a river inputs and tides. Reanalyses of ten years of ocean conditions at 4km and 500m grid resolutions are available for the research community through Australias National Computational Infrastructure
    Financing (in USD)
    3600000
    Financing (in USD)
    2400000
    Staff / Technical expertise
    Scientific research
    No progress reports have been submitted. Please sign in and click here to submit one.
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    Timeline
    01 February 2012 (start date)
    01 December 2017 (date of completion)
    Entity
    Bureau of Meteorology
    SDGs
    Geographical coverage
    Australia
    Ocean Basins
    South Pacific
    Communities of Ocean Action
    Scientific knowledge, research capacity development and transfer of marine technology, Implementation of international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
    Countries
    N/A
    Contact Information

    Louise Minty, Assistant Director Environmental Information, Environment & Research Division, Bureau of Meteorology