National Marine Environmental Condition Assessment Framework Round Table Report

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This draft report summarises discussions from a two-day round table held in Melbourne on 26 and 27 February, 2008. The national round table was convened to facilitate discussion with key marine researchers and managers and provide a range of opportunities for participants to assess and provide feedback on the feasibility of developing a practical national marine assessment framework.

A background briefing paper, provided to participants prior to the round table, was presented in three sections. Section 1 of the paper presented information on the role of the NLWRA (the Audit) and provided details of a model National Environmental Condition Assessment (ECA) Framework and a supporting information model. The model National ECA Framework was refined in a similar round table held to determine the feasibility of using the ECA Framework for assessment of estuarine areas. Section 2 of the paper focused on the aims and questions to be addressed in the round table. Section 3 provides an overview of some approaches used in current assessment programs for marine and estuarine systems in Australia and overseas.