Using the Jervis Bay nuclear power project as its centrepiece, this thesis examines the Australian Government’s attitudes and policies towards electric power generation using nuclear technology from the earliest beginnings as the technology was developed during the 1940s to the cancellation of the Jervis Bay project in 1971. It explores the key influences on this policy and examines the extent to which each had a direct influence in the planning of the Jervis Bay project, in particular: the demand for increased economic capacity, the possibility of a nuclear defence deterrent and the significance of Australia’s uranium reserves. The thesis interprets policy at a variety of levels, from the complex arena of diplomatic and strategic relations, to the responses of the public and the scientific community. / This thesis argues that the Jervis Bay project was end product of a long and detailed policy development process, spanning over twenty years. Though the influences which shaped this development varied, the centre of this bi-partisan support for peaceful nuclear technology was always the goal that Australia would one day have commercial nuclear power plant. However, it will also demonstrate that such lengthy preparations are no guarantee for success. The project would ultimately be cancelled as a series of technological, economic and political problems conspired to undermine those careful preparations. As Australians continue to debate the possibility of introducing nuclear power, this thesis not only highlights some potential challenges in the introduction of nuclear policy, but also the challenge of gaining and maintaining support for any major national technology or infrastructure project.

This thesis provides an insight into the biology and ecology of foxes Vulpes vulpes from a coastal habitat and free roaming dogs Canis lupus familiaris from an Aboriginal community, both in SE NSW. In particular, the study examines the home range and movement patterns of both canids from a view point of population and disease control. Additional base line information was collected for these species on diet, parasites and population biology. A total of 14 foxes and 10 dogs were collared and radio tracked to determine the home range and movement patterns of the animals. The data collected provides information on the behaviour of foxes in coastal habitat and represents the first detailed biological study of freeroaming dogs in Australia. The results provide a better understanding of dog movements, particularly the differences in behaviour between wandering and sedentary dogs. Home range sizes varied greatly between the dog groups from 1 ha to 2451 ha. There was evidence that dog forays were influenced by prey availability, particularly medium sized macropods. Occasional sallies, size and shape of fox and dog home range is discussed in relation to the richness of habitat at Jervis Bay with comparisons being made with other studies from the literature. Foxes in Jervis Bay had home ranges between 60-270 ha which is comparable to foxes living in the forests of Germany and in coastal habitat in the Netherlands This study also provides data on the diet of foxes and dogs presenting quantitative and qualitative data on food preferences. Foxes tended to be opportunistic in food selection although critical weight range mammals ie. ringtail possums were favoured. The high prevalence of the parasite Spirometra spp. in foxes indicated that considerable numbers of amphibians and reptiles are consumed by this species. A comprehensive inventory of the parasites of the two canid species showed a high proportion of hookworm in foxes and dogs and Spirometra spp in foxes. These results are discussed in light of the potential health implications for local Aboriginal people. Analysis of fox scats revealed that they have the potential to spread the seeds of bitou bush. A more detailed pilot study revealed the potential impact of foxes on the environment through the spread of weed seeds. Germination trials recorded high viability of seeds that were eaten and deposited by foxes. The management implications of this behaviour are discussed in context to weed control. This thesis has provided new information on foxes and dogs in Australia. Discussion on these species in the thesis has been framed around the benefits of this information for population and disease control.

The breeding success of the Little Penguin was significantly higher in northern populations compared with documented southern colonies. Several southern colonies including Phillip Island in Victoria and colonies in Tasmania, have been characterised by poor breeding success, increasingly later commencement of breeding, and declining populations. This study aimed to compare and contrast the ecological attributes of a thriving northern population with other documented colonies. I collected long term data on breeding success (1987 to 1997) of the Little Penguin on Bowen Island, and related variability in breeding success to ocean currents and climate patterns, foraging behaviour and diet, nesting habitat, and inter-specific and fisheries competition. The benefits of successional changes to nesting habitat on Bowen Island since active habitat management commenced in 1989 were examined, including the importance of burrow depth, aspect, distance to water from the burrow, and vegetation type on breeding success of the Little Penguin. Morphological measurements of east coast penguins indicated a north-south cline, similar to that described in New Zealand. The Little Penguin was larger at higher latitudes. Whilst adults were sedentary and displayed a high degree of nest site fidelity, juveniles dispersed widely in their first three years, but then returned to the colony, sometimes to their natal burrow, to breed. This appears to be an adaptive mechanism, which selects for high quality nesting habitat. The study confirmed earlier findings that mature vegetation assemblages, namely woodland and forest, support higher breeding success than structurally simpler grassland and herbland habitat. This may contribute to observed differences in breeding success between northern and southern colonies, because many of the southern colonies have degraded nesting habitat. Most important to the diet of the Little Penguin were clupeoids, which dominated the fish species of Jervis Bay. The substantial clupeoid resources were targeted by the tuna fishery for bait, in the same areas and coinciding with maximum demands (chick raising and fledging), as penguins. The potential quantity of baitfish taken from Jervis Bay was over 10, 000 tonnes per year, which was well beyond the quantities raising concerns in other regions, although the fishery remains unregulated. Nevertheless, the foraging range of Bowen Island penguins was smaller than has previously been described Little Penguins on Bowen Island had a heavy reliance on relatively shallow waters of the Bay, within 5 km of the island. Daily foraging distances exceeding 20 km coincided with low breeding success, sometimes below that required for population replacement. Greater daily foraging range during the breeding season in southern Victoria may explain in part why these populations are declining. The principal mechanism for nutrient enrichment of Jervis Bay waters was the East Australia Current (EAC). This is a large and powerful, warm water boundary current of 250 km diameter and 1000 feet depth, which promoted slope water intrusion through upwelling along the New South Wales coast during the study, particularly during the penguin breeding season. The EAC effects northern colonies, but less so southern colonies. The Bowen Island colony was prone to periodic breeding failure, which was related to the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, indicated in Australia by the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). ENSO warm events, corresponding with negative values of the SOI, depressed the EAC and caused downwelling, leading in some seasons to increased breeding failure. There was a correlation between both fledging success and adult mortality, and the SOI. The mean breeding success of the Bowen Island colony, at 1.46 chicks per pair over the ten-year study, was the highest recorded for the Little Penguin, and the population was increasing.

Marine protected areas are recognized as an important approach to conserve marine ecosystems and biodiversity as well as to manage costal and marine resource. This thesis addresses the development and management of marine protected areas in Australia and in China. Australia and China are major maritime countries with diverse marine creatures and ecosystems. Both countries have adopted marine protected areas as a management tool to protect the marine environment. This thesis introduces their marine environment and threats, and then makes a close study of the development, legislation and management of marine protected areas in both Australia and China. Two case studies, Jervis Bay Marine Park in Australia, and Shankou Mangrove Marine Nature Reserve in China provide examples of the management strategies and lessons learnt. In order to improve the management of marine protected areas in China, the thesis analyzes the conflicts in the development of marine protected areas in China and prescribes community participation and the marine special reserve as solutions to promote the development of marine protected areas. This study also examines how the Australian Defence Force, an important stakeholder, manages its activities in the marine protected areas.