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Reporting progress





Implementing the Marine Estate Management Strategy

Progress on implementation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy is published:

  • every four months in a triannual snapshot
  • at the end of each year in an annual report.

Copies of past reports are available below.

In addition, the Marine Integrated Monitoring Program is assessing the effectiveness of the Strategy in reducing priority threats and risks to the NSW marine estate.

A ten-year strategy

The Strategy commenced its fifth year of implementation on 1 July 2022. See the current implementation plan for details about how the Marine Estate Management Strategy is being delivered in 2022-24.

a curved timeline graphic with 2023 coloured





Highlights of current progress

July to October 2023

Estuarine water quality monitoring -Water quality sampling and data analysis: sampling and laboratory analysis and system grading completed for 2022-2023 fieldwork season. Preparation of results for next ‘Health of Estuaries’ update.
Oyster reef restoration and researchTo assist planners and identify priority locations, mapping of remnant oyster reefs completed in Evans River, Cullendulla, Jervis Bay (including Currumbene Creek) and Lake Conjola. Hawkesbury River, Pittwater and Manning River mapping now available on the Fisheries Spatial Data Portal. Further mapping planned for the next quarter. Early positive results at Wagonga Inlet with 15 fish species observed on recently seeded subtidal reefs.
Threats to estuarine fish assemblagesProject findings have been released in a scientific paper on the cumulative effects of multiple stressors to Posidonia and estuarine fish published in the journal Science of the Total Environment. This paper examines relationships between human activities, Posidonia sea grass, and fish communities.
Climate change citizen science

Completion of public signage: completion of final versions of four NSW bioregion-specific public signs depicting lists of marine ‘species-on-the-move’ that citizen scientists can spot, log and map with the Redmap project in collaboration with NSW DPI

Cultural InterpretationSupported local schools within the Tweed LGA with an Aboriginal cultural guide to input on the cross-curriculum priority - ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Culture’ with a focus on Jungarra Ngarrian and Tweed coastal waters.
Strategy for migrating species interactionsScientific publication 'Characteristics of east Australian demersal trawl elasmobranch bycatch as revealed by short-term latitudinal monitoring' published in Endangered Species Research. This study forms a timely baseline which can be used to assess the impact of the prawn trawl sectors of the NSW ocean trawl fishery on elasmobranchs in the future.
Fisheries enhancementsOffshore artificial reefs: construction and deployment of the Central Coast and Forster offshore artificial reefs completed (Sept and Oct 2023, respectively). Consultation and independent reports underway for Ballina and Coffs artificial reef projects.
Vessel monitoringCentre for Maritime Safety (CMS) continues to identify available data and undertake gap analyses. CMS will continue to contribute to boating reports and data to MEMS program evaluation. Two reports have been publicly released: NSW Recreational boater Survey 2023 and Lifejacket Wear on Recreational Vessels Report 2023.
Social and cultural benefits monitoring and research

The NSW Marine Estate Community Wellbeing Framework was publicly released.

Improved marine protected area planning and managementCode of conduct developed with Cook Island Aquatic Reserve Tour Operators: A successful workshop was held with tour operators using Cook Island Aquatic Reserve, DPI Fisheries, NPWS and Green Heroes volunteer group. Participants agreed unanimously to develop a code of conduct together that will help protect marine life and also to provide input into communication materials for the public.
Strategy program managementPublication of the Strategy Snapshot Report (March-June 2023). This provides a regular update to stakeholders and the community on the implementation of the Strategy.


Reports


2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

2020-21

Baseline evaluation

Progress reports

Presentations from MEMS local government online forum - July 2021

  1. Introduction (PDF, 3776.63 KB)
  2. Review of the NSW water quality objectives (PDF, 3558.67 KB)
  3. Risk based framework for urban waterway health (PDF, 2270.02 KB)
  4. Risk based framework for regional waterway health (PDF, 2267.9 KB)
  5. Estuarine water quality monitoring (PDF, 2232.12 KB)
  6. Oyster reef restoration (PDF, 4833.15 KB)
  7. Improving roads and tracks (PDF, 4871.89 KB)
  8. Riverbank vegetation improvement  and stabilisation (PDF, 5369.89 KB)
  9. Clean coastal catchments on-ground and research (PDF, 748.11 KB)
  10. Fish friendly workshops for councils (PDF, 2161.73 KB)
  11. Construction sediment management and coastal design guidelines (PDF, 2545.07 KB)
  12. Fish friendly breakwater maintenance (PDF, 2140.58 KB)
  13. Marine vegetation strategies (PDF, 2376.67 KB)
  14. Domestic waterfront structure and estuary bank management strategies (PDF, 5006.01 KB)
  15. Coastal wetland rehabilitation (PDF, 2013.93 KB)
  16. Climate change threats to mangrove and saltmarsh (PDF, 6171.57 KB)
  17. Climate change monitoring (PDF, 2023.4 KB)
  18. Feedback from MEMS Local Government online forum (PDF, 191.25 KB)

2019-20

2018-19