Priorities Action Statement - Actions for Cauliflower Soft Coral (Dendronephthya australis)

Advice to consent and determining authorities

Provide information on the distribution of Cauliflower Soft Coral to local councils and determining authorities to ensure appropriate consideration during development assessment processes (High priority)
Negotiate with relevant authorities to encourage the identification, assessment and modification of natural resource management plans and policies to minimise impacts on Cauliflower Soft Coral habitats (Medium priority).

Collate and synthesise data collected to quantify the significance of high and moderate risk threat interactions with Cauliflower Soft Coral and identify knowledge gaps for the purpose of targeting future research activities (Medium priority).

Implement education initiatives to improve identification and awareness of the status of Cauliflower Soft Coral and ways to minimise impacts on the species by preparing and distributing appropriate advisory material (High priority).
Encourage the reporting of sightings of Cauliflower Soft Coral along the east coast of Australia through the threatened species reporting form at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/threatened-species/report-it (Medium priority).

Reduce the impact of public and private boat moorings that impact on Cauliflower Soft Coral habitats within NSW including replacement of block and chain moorings with non-scouring environmentally friendly mooring systems (High priority).
Implement a rehabilitation program in areas where the Cauliflower Soft Coral has significantly declined using transplanted soft corals to repopulate (High priority)

Ensure compliance with the ban on collecting Cauliflower Soft Coral from the wild by communicating with aquarium enthusiasts using a number of communication mediums (e.g. aquarium industry journals, newsletters, conferences) (low priority).

Consider information on Cauliflower Soft Coral distribution, abundance and habitat preferences during development and review of marine park management plans and management rules (High priority).
Negotiate with relevant authorities to encourage the identification, assessment and modification of natural resource management plans and policies to minimise impacts on areas where the Cauliflower Soft Coral occurs or can occur (Medium priority).

Implement research regarding the biology of the species to assess reproduction, generation time, survival and longevity (High priority).
Continue to monitor the distribution and abundance of Cauliflower Soft Coral at important sites (Port Stephens and Brisbane Water) to inform population status and to assist in determining the effectiveness of recovery actions (High priority).
Implement aquarium studies to develop techniques for Cauliflower Soft Coral cultivation (High priority).
Initiate research that examines the feasibility of transplanting aquarium grown Cauliflower Soft Coral for transplant into the wild for rehabilitation (High priority).
Implement the feasibility of using eDNA to investigate the occurrence of Cauliflower Soft Coral in estuaries and embayments across and outside its range (Medium priority).
Implement genetics research to investigate population structure of Cauliflower Soft Coral across its entire range (NSW and QLD) (Medium priority).

Conduct and/or facilitate targeted surveys to determine the current distribution and abundance of Cauliflower Soft Coral in eastern Australia (Medium priority).