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Our projects

Water quality and litter (0)

Taking action to stop water pollution and litter before it gets into our waterways.

Aquatic biodiversity offsets

Aquatic biodiversity offsets

Develop and implement policy to protect high-value fish habitats through use of biodiversity offsets.

Building capacity on the risk-based framework

Building capacity on the risk-based framework

Increasing awareness of the risk-based framework through guidance forums and online portal.

Diffuse source water pollution oversight committee

Diffuse source water pollution oversight committee

Improving management of water pollution from diffuse sources in NSW.

Clean coastal catchments monitoring

Clean coastal catchments monitoring

Clean coastal catchment monitoring will assess the benefits of on-ground activities that aim to reduce diffuse-source water pollution.

Clean coastal catchments on-ground

Clean coastal catchments on-ground

Working with farmers to keep sediment and nutrients on the farm and out of coastal waterways, while supporting profitable and sustainable agriculture.

Clean coastal catchments research

Clean coastal catchments research

Researching fertiliser use and ways to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff from farms.

Coastal floodplain prioritisation study

Coastal floodplain prioritisation study

Assessing coastal floodplain systems and infrastructure to assist decision makers in the enhancement of water quality, habitat and biodiversity.

Coastal wetland rehabilitation

Coastal wetland rehabilitation

Rehabilitating degraded wetlands to improve water quality, habitat and biodiversity within the wetland and downstream.

Construction sediment management

Construction sediment management

Controlling sediment from construction sites through improved methods and development approval processes.

Estuarine water quality monitoring

Estuarine water quality monitoring

Monitoring the water quality and health of estuaries to detect problems and see the benefits of improved management.

Fish friendly workshops for councils

Fish friendly workshops for councils

Delivering an education program to council staff about the protection of fish and fish habitat.

Improving roads and tracks

Improving roads and tracks

Reducing sediment runoff into waterways from gravel roads and tracks by works such as road sealing.

Landuse pressures on the marine estate

Landuse pressures on the marine estate

Monitoring the condition of gauged streams using water quality and biological indicators for different landuses.

Mapping outflow events

Mapping outflow events

Mapping subtidal habitats and monitoring coastal outflow events to quantify impacts on coastal and marine waters

Marina pollution monitoring

Marina pollution monitoring

A pilot program implementing and evaluating systems that trap runoff and pollution from slipways and marinas in NSW. Project to commence in future years.

Marine litter campaign

Marine litter campaign

Extending the ‘Don’t be a Tosser’ litter campaign to include the marine estate.

Marine debris research and management program

Marine debris research and management program

Convene the Marine debris working group composed of agency representatives and academic experts to oversee a marine debris risk assessment and the research, monitoring, analysis and coordination of marine litter/ debris actions.

NSW litter prevention strategy

NSW litter prevention strategy

The Litter Prevention Strategy is expanding towards a greater focus on reducing marine litter. This includes establishing new targets to reduce litter in the marine environment and incorporating additional stormwater and catchment management actions into the litter prevention program.

Oyster reef restoration research

Oyster reef restoration research

Exploring better ways to restore oyster reefs.

Oyster reef restoration

Oyster reef restoration

Restoring natural oyster reefs to improve water quality, aquatic habitat and biodiversity.

Review of the NSW Water Quality Objectives

Review of the NSW Water Quality Objectives

Reviewing the NSW Water Quality Objectives so they support current community values.

Risk-based framework for regional waterway health

Risk-based framework for regional waterway health

Support the establishment of a new governance framework for the Richmond River catchment to manage diffuse source runoff in a regional area.

Risk-based framework for urban waterway health

Risk-based framework for urban waterway health

Apply the Risk-based Framework in South Creek as an urban diffuse source water pollution pilot.

Water quality working group

Water quality working group

Working with other government agencies to improve the management of the marine estate’s water quality.

Riverbank vegetation improvements

Riverbank vegetation improvements

Rehabilitating degraded riverbank vegetation to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff into waterways, help stabilise riverbanks and improve biodiversity.

Riverbank stabilisation

Riverbank stabilisation

Protecting riverbanks from erosion to reduce the amount of sediment entering waterways.

Healthy coastal habitats (0)

Taking action to improve the management of foreshore and waterway structures to protect the marine environment.

Breakwall governance and management

Breakwall governance and management

This project will identify ownership of breakwalls (including rock walls, sheet pile, groynes and other training works) within estuaries on Crown land, to ensure they are appropriately managed. The project will consider social, environmental, cultural and economic values in priority locations to improve decision making concerning repair, replacement or removal of breakwalls.

Coastal design guidelines review

Coastal design guidelines review

Improving the design of coastal cities and towns by promoting environmentally friendly planning and infrastructure.

Coastal floodplain drainage management

Coastal floodplain drainage management

Providing a framework for managing coastal floodplain drainage to improve water quality, simplify approvals and support viable primary industries.

Commercial dredging best practice 

Commercial dredging best practice 

Implement the outcomes of the audit commercial dredging in estuaries that identified and recommended actions to improve licencing conditions and related environmental outcomes.

Domestic waterfront structure strategies

Domestic waterfront structure strategies

Developing estuary-wide strategies for jetties, pontoons and boat ramps to streamline approvals while protecting aquatic habitat.

Estuary bank management strategies

Estuary bank management strategies

Developing environmentally friendly methods of bank stabilisation to manage foreshores and guide future investment.

Fish friendly breakwater maintenance

Fish friendly breakwater maintenance

Developing guidelines and plans to include features in new and existing estuary breakwaters that will improve biodiversity, fishing and other social values.

ICOLL management

ICOLL management

Developing an approval framework to support entrance management for intermittently closed and open lakes and lagoons (ICOLL).

Innovative technology research

Innovative technology research

Exploring ways of using artificial intelligence to map and monitor habitats and species.

Mapping seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh

Mapping seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh

Developing new methods for mapping seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh to determine species, measure condition and identify threats.

Marine vegetation management strategies 

Marine vegetation management strategies 

Developing estuary-wide strategies for rehabilitating and protecting mangroves and saltmarsh so they are resilient to key threats.

Reconnecting fish habitats

Reconnecting fish habitats

Restoring fish passage and river connectivity at priority weir and road crossings so that fish can move between habitats, avoid predators, find food and breed.

Reviewing jetty designs

Reviewing jetty designs

Reviewing jetty design to better protect seagrass.

Subtidal reef monitoring

Subtidal reef monitoring

Improving knowledge about deep rocky reef species in the Greater Sydney region and the effects of natural and human influences.

Threats to estuarine fish assemblages

Threats to estuarine fish assemblages

Understanding the effects of human activities on fish in Greater Sydney estuaries.

Threats to estuarine vegetation

Threats to estuarine vegetation

Understanding the effects of human activities on seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh.

Climate change (0)

Taking action to identify marine environments and species at threat from climate change.

Climate change citizen science

Climate change citizen science

Using community data to map changes in marine species distributions due to climate change.

Climate change monitoring

Climate change monitoring

Monitoring the condition of offshore rocky reefs as a priority environmental asset.

Climate change research

Climate change research

Researching the effects of climate change to fill knowledge gaps and guide future management actions.

Climate change threats to seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh

Climate change threats to seagrass, mangrove and saltmarsh

Develop a first-pass model of wetland distributions under future sea level rise scenarios to help identify those most at risk and to prioritise land suitable for wetland protection and retreat.

Consistent regional climate modelling

Consistent regional climate modelling

Applying the NSW and ACT Regional Climate Modelling (NARCliM) projections in research to understand the local impacts of climate change on marine estate values.

Informing the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 

Informing the Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 

This project is the key action for climate change adaptation.Using adaptation assessments, it would build the knowledge and capacity of coastal and marine managers and communities to increase resilience and identify adaptation solutions to climate change in the marine estate.

Investigating a blue carbon demonstration site on primary production land

Investigating a blue carbon demonstration site on primary production land

This project aims to transform a 13-hectare peninsular adjacent to the Richmond River near Ballina, currently used for cattle grazing, into a blue carbon demonstration site. A boardwalk is planned to go through part of the site allowing members of the community to witness the progress of blue carbon ecosystem recovery at the site.

Aboriginal cultural values (0)

Taking action to increase active participation of Aboriginal people in managing the marine estate.

Aboriginal engagement

Aboriginal engagement

Evaluate current arrangements of Aboriginal peoples’ participation in Sea Country management and establish an effective Aboriginal engagement framework.

Climate change on culture

Climate change on culture

Investigate the impacts of climate change on Aboriginal communities and culture in the marine estate and develop strategies to reduce or adapt to this risk.

Cultural economic development

Cultural economic development

Identify and expand opportunities for economic development across the marine estate.

Cultural fishing funds

Cultural fishing funds

Delivering targeted funds to increase economic opportunities for Aboriginal people in the fishing and seafood industry.

Cultural interpretations

Cultural interpretations

Work with Aboriginal communities to increase cultural interpretation in marine parks. This will include signage and artwork depicting the stories and cultures of Aboriginal peoples’ connections to Sea Country and will be developed with Aboriginal communities to increase public awareness of Aboriginal cultural values.

Cultural research and monitoring

Cultural research and monitoring

Develop a research, monitoring and evaluation approach that is integrated with the Aboriginal engagement framework (Aboriginal engagement project) and aligns with overall Monitoring Program.

Cultural resource use agreements

Cultural resource use agreements

Developing cultural resource use agreements with Aboriginal communities in marine parks.

Cultural site protection

Cultural site protection

Undertake local cultural research activities with local Elders and communities, starting with Buckenbowra fish trap.

Elders as mentors

Elders as mentors

Deliver ‘Elders as Mentors’ project in each marine park. Elders are important knowledge holders in Aboriginal communities. This new project provides a special opportunity to respect and honour Aboriginal Elders as experts to spend time alongside marine estate staff and impart knowledge so that a greater respect and appreciation of Sea Country and Aboriginal cultural values can be obtained.

Pipi harvest

Pipi harvest

Implement Stage 2 of Safe and Sustainable Sea Country Harvest of Shellfish project enabling Aboriginal people to harvest pipis and consume them safely for cultural purposes.

Reviving culture

Reviving culture

Work with Aboriginal communities to maintain or revive cultural knowledge and practices of Sea Country.

Sea Country management

Sea Country management

Enhance opportunities for Aboriginal employment in NSW Government to manage Sea Country

Sea Country plans

Sea Country plans

Develop Sea Country plans with Aboriginal communities. Sea Country plans are an important way for Aboriginal people to determine their custodian roles, responsibilities and priorities to care for Sea Country and protect their cultures. It also provides important cultural information such as cultural management practices, subsistence fishing and continuity of cultural traditions to be handed down for future generations.

Sea Country rangers

Sea Country rangers

Work with Aboriginal communities to design and deliver a caring for Sea Country ranger model and activities across the marine estate.

Threatened & protected species (0)

Taking action to protect threatened and protected marine wildlife from harm.

Education to protect and conserve marine wildlife

Education to protect and conserve marine wildlife

Explaining the need to protect marine threatened and protected species and the importance of community to achieve this.

Estuary General Fishery observer survey

Estuary General Fishery observer survey

Analysing data from the Estuary General Fishery to address threats to fish from bycatch and harvest.

Improve reporting of interactions with marine wildlife

Improve reporting of interactions with marine wildlife

Improving reporting and data sharing on marine threatened and protected species to support evidence-based decisions about marine wildlife management.

Observer survey prioritisation

Observer survey prioritisation

Updating the commercial fishing observer prioritisation to address threats to marine ecosystems.

Ocean Trap and Line Fishery observer survey

Ocean Trap and Line Fishery observer survey

Extending the observer-based survey of the Ocean Trap and Line Fishery to better understand the threats from bycatch and harvest.

Ocean Trawl Fishery observer survey

Ocean Trawl Fishery observer survey

Analysing data from the NSW Ocean Trawl Fishery to address threats to fish from bycatch and harvest.

Partnerships to protect marine wildlife

Partnerships to protect marine wildlife

Strengthening partnerships with government, community and industry to enhance the management, incident response and rehabilitation of marine threatened and protected species.

Planning to protect marine wildlife

Planning to protect marine wildlife

Improving strategic planning and coordination of marine threatened and protected species programs across NSW.

Species habitat research

Species habitat research

Understand and reduce impacts of habitat modification on threatened and protected species (project to commence in future years).

Species monitoring

Species monitoring

Undertake research and monitoring to help fill key knowledge gaps identified in the statewide TARA, and to address cumulative threats to marine wildlife, monito r trends in threats and the health and condition of their habitats.

Strategies for mitigating species interactions

Strategies for mitigating species interactions

Developing and implementing strategies to reduce interactions between commercial fishing gear and threatened and protected species.

Sustainable fishing & aquaculture (0)

Taking action to support commercial, recreational and Aboriginal cultural fisheries and aquaculture to be economically viable and ecologically sustainable into the future.

Aquaculture socio-economic research

Aquaculture socio-economic research

This project will undertake a socio-economic valuation of the aquaculture industry in the marine estate, filling key social and economic knowledge gaps.

Best practices in oyster aquaculture

Best practices in oyster aquaculture

Protecting important seagrass habitat by using the best-practice guidelines in the NSW Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy.

Commercial Fisheries socio-economic research

Commercial Fisheries socio-economic research

This project will produce an annual time series of economic and social indicators for NSW commercial fisheries, filling key social and economic knowledge gaps.

Cultural fishing monitoring

Cultural fishing monitoring

Explore potential pathways to enable assessment of cultural fishing in NSW in terms of participation, catch and effort and relate these aspects to access arrangements within current resource management decision making processes including harvest strategies.

Eat more NSW seafood

Eat more NSW seafood

Building marketing and promotion capability in seafood businesses through small-scale and large-scale grants.

Fisheries enhancements

Fisheries enhancements

Improve fishing access by fish stocking and artificial reef installation at key places and planning fishing platforms.

Fishing industry marine stewardship

Fishing industry marine stewardship

Develop information and training package in partnership with key fishing sectors and assist in delivery.

Harvest strategy development

Harvest strategy development

Developing harvest strategies for use by commercial, recreational and cultural fishers to reduce the risks of fishing on species of concern.

Harvest strategy research

Harvest strategy research

Develop and operationalise NSW Government policy and guidelines on fisheries harvest strategies, and progress assessment and management of ecological risk posed by NSW fisheries, prioritising potential management responses.

Marine aquaculture

Marine aquaculture

Utilise the Marine Waters Aquaculture Strategy to identify and establish new marine aquaculture ventures in NSW.

Marine biosecurity awareness

Marine biosecurity awareness

Using social research into recreational boaters' knowledge of the risks of aquatic pests and diseases to develop a communication and behavioural change management program.

Marine estate benefits

Marine estate benefits

Investigate the non-economic benefits from a healthy NSW marine estate gained by stakeholders undertaking fishing activity and examine variables that maximise those returns to benefit management decisions (new project).

Oyster aquaculture business and environment

Oyster aquaculture business and environment

Assist the recovery of oyster aquaculture farms affected by natural disaster events and incentivise innovative solutions that mitigate future impacts and ensure resilient businesses and sustained healthy estuaries (new project).

Recreational fishing environmental assessment

Recreational fishing environmental assessment

Limiting the environmental impacts of recreational fishing by completing an environmental impact assessment and a recreational fisheries strategy.

Recreational fishing values

Recreational fishing values

Examine historical NSW recreational fishing surveys to examine what motivate fishers and what factors relate to a greater sense of satisfaction. This research will inform Strategy monitoring programs.

Socio-ecological research

Socio-ecological research

Identifying the priorities for socio-ecological research to support the Marine Estate Management Strategy.

Wild catch fish stocks

Wild catch fish stocks

Contributing NSW biological, catch and effort data to help develop the Status of Australian Fish Stocks Reports and develop Harvest Strategies.

Safe & sustainable boating (0)

Taking action to provide boating access to our waterways that is safe and protects marine environments.

Boating Now

Boating Now

Working with partners in the Boating Now grants program to improve environmentally sustainable access to the marine estate and manage conflicting uses.

End-of-life vessel management

End-of-life vessel management

Develop options to manage vessels that are reaching or have reached the end of their useful life to mitigate potential environmental risks and enhance access to moorings.

Environmentally friendly moorings

Environmentally friendly moorings

Establish a performance-based standard for Environmentally Friendly Moorings (EFM) and review policy and regulatory options for improving adoption and maintenance of EFM.

Marine pollution legislation

Marine pollution legislation

Reviewing the Marine Pollution Act 2012 and its role in protecting the NSW environment from pollutants discharged from ships.

Marine pollution responsibilities

Marine pollution responsibilities

Clarifying the status of Transport for NSW's Appropriate Regulatory Authority (ARA) with a focus on pollution from vessels in marine parks.

Maritime infrastructure

Maritime infrastructure

Working collaboratively with key stakeholders to invest in maritime infrastructure as part of the Maritime Infrastructure Plan 2019–2024.

Mooring access

Mooring access

Optimising mooring density in mooring fields to better meet demand.

Mooring audits

Mooring audits

Improve the strategy for audit of moorings and enforcement of mooring licence conditions.

Mooring strategy

Mooring strategy

Review and modernise the strategy for mooring management and administration to improve access to moorings.

Recreational boater education

Recreational boater education

Continuing to educate recreational boaters about compliance with environmental regulations.

Review of offshore anchoring

Review of offshore anchoring

Review and investigate the effects of large commercial shipping vessel anchoring within the Greater Sydney region.

Vessel environmental standards

Vessel environmental standards

Continue to enforce environmental standards and regulations among domestic commercial vessels and recreational vessels.

Vessel monitoring

Vessel monitoring

Analysing data in shipping movements and interactions with threatened and protected species to identify knowledge gaps.

Waterway compliance

Waterway compliance

Consider options for a camera network to address dangerous and non-compliant behaviour in Port Hacking and Georges River.

Latest News

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MEMS progress update released

Want to learn more about the many ways we are working to improve the health of our estuaries, coast and ocean? Check out our Marine Estate Management Strategy Triannual Snapshot Y5 T2 report just released.

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Oyster team inspires next generation of scientists

More than 400 female secondary students had the opportunity to learn more about the DPI Fisheries Oyster Reef Restoration project at the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Women in STEM Expo.

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Wetlands under fire: How did the black summer bushfires impact estuarine wetlands?

A new study detailing the impact of the black summer 2019/20 fires on estuarine wetlands has just been released.

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