Aquatic biodiversity offsets
You can see the blue carbon areas such as this saltmarsh on maps in the NSW SEED Portal (Photo: Greg West).
Overview
Why is this project important?
When new infrastructure or development is planned, it is always best to build it in ways that avoid impact on aquatic habitats.
When that cannot be achieved, many impacts can still be minimised with thoughtful design and careful construction techniques.
This project is about the impacts to aquatic habitats that are unavoidable.
Occasionally, they are so big that the development proposal goes back to the drawing board to be replanned. Other times it is agreed that the impacts can be offset.
Offsetting involves repair and permanent protection of a similarly valuable aquatic habitat that has been degraded elsewhere.
This project is developing improved aquatic offset policy and delivery to ensure offset habitats are valuable for fisheries, biodiversity values and other ecosystem services such as water good quality, carbon storage and cultural values.
What are we doing?
During this project we are:
- investigating the type and value of ecosystem services provided by key fish habitats.
- refining the long-standing key fish habitat offset policy to achieve:
- better protection of habitats
- more certain delivery of in-perpetuity offset outcomes
- no net loss of key fish habitat
- working with partner state agencies to improve guidance for managers of projects offsetting in aquatic and terrestrial habitats.
Definitions
What is an ecosystem?
A complex interconnected system of living and non-living parts within an area.
What is meant by ecosystem services?
Ecosystem services is a term used to refer to the benefits people obtain from ecosystems. These services span clean water, food, places to play and the diversity of plants and animals.
What is meant by key fish habitat?
Key fish habitat refers to aquatic habitat that are vital for healthy fish populations and the sustainability of fisheries.
What have we achieved so far?
The attached report Key Fish Habitat Offsets: An Ecosystem Services Approach investigates the range and value of ecosystem services provided by key fish habitats.
Locations
Statewide
Local government areas - Statewide
Lead agency
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Fisheries
Partners
- Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water
- Local Land Services