Suggested improvements to the Australian environmental impact assessment process to benefit marine megafauna

Performance of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process is often perceived to be flawed. Testing the process requires investigation of core environmental legislation, regulation and a review of outcomes following an EIA, all of which are rarely undertaken. We use recent coastal development assessments in Australia to complete such a review focusing on the current Commonwealth impact assessment process and its ability to effectively manage risk for protected marine megafauna (turtles, dugongs and coastal dolphins). A range of factors are examined including data sufficiency, project and proponent constraints, knowledge of marine megafauna ecology and relevance of applied monitoring techniques. Challenges associated with identifying measures for effective protection are discussed with changes suggested to the assessment process to achieve an improved conservation goal and supporting truly sustainable development.