The 14 management topics included in the assessment vary in scale and complexity (Table 7.2). The assessment of effectiveness for each management topic was not weighted to consider these differences in scale and complexity. Interrelationships between management topics often create cumulative impacts, which are the interaction of effects between one or more impacts and pressures over time (past, present and future). These cumulative impacts add to the challenge of managing the Region. This complexity is referred to in the risks chapter (Chapter 9) and addressed in the long-term outlook chapter (Chapter 10).
The management topics vary in scale and complexity
Table 7.2
Scale and complexity of management topics
| Management topic | Scale | Complexity | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social | Biophysical | Jurisdictional | ||
Managing direct use | ||||
| Commercial marine tourism | Region-wide but variable in intensity | Major | Moderate | Moderate |
| Defence activities | Limited in areaand duration | Minor | Minor | Minor |
| Fishing | Region-wide but variable in intensity | Major | Major | Moderate |
| Ports | Concentrated around ports | Major | Moderate | Major |
| Recreation (not including fishing) | Region-wide but variable in intensity | Major | Moderate | Moderate |
| Research activities | Region-wide but limited in intensity | Minor | Moderate | Minor |
| Shipping | Concentrated around shipping lanes | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
Managing external factors | ||||
| Climate change | Region-wide | Major | Major | Major |
| Coastal development | Region-wide, but limited to Catchment areas and mainly inshore waters | Major | Major | Major |
| Land-based runoff | Catchment and mainly inshore waters | Major | Major | Major |
Managing to protect the Region’s values | ||||
| Biodiversity values | Region-wide | Moderate | Major | Moderate |
| Heritage values | Region-wide | Major | Moderate | Moderate |
| Community benefits of the environment | Region-wide | Major | Moderate | Minor |