NESP 4.1: Coastal seagrass of the Gulf of Carpentaria: building knowledge and capacity as a foundation for long-term monitoring
Role
Principal Investigator
Description
The Gulf of Carpentaria has globally significant seagrass habitat, supporting dugong, green turtle, and commercially important fish and prawns. Key to managing impacts to species in these habitats, including indirect impacts through land use within southern Gulf catchments, is reliable data on seagrass distribution and how it changes over time. Achieving this requires large-scale mapping and a ranger-led seagrass monitoring program. This project will map intertidal seagrass habitats from the western boundary of the Nijinda Durlga (Gangalidda) and Thuwathu/Bujimulla Indigenous Protected Areas to the Bynoe River near Karumba. This mapping focuses on data-deficient regions along the mainland coastline of the southern Gulf. New technologies for monitoring using drones will be collaboratively tested in key locations for ongoing monitoring of coastal habitats by rangers. This will contribute towards the development of a regional baseline of seagrass for the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Date
01 Feb 2024 - 11 Dec 2026
Project Type
CONTRACT_RESEARCH
Keywords
Seagrass;Mapping;Nijinda Durlga (Gangalidda);Thuwathu/Bujimulla;First Nations;Monitoring;Drone
Funding Body
Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water (DCCEEW), James Cook University
Amount
367478
Project Team
Catherine Collier;Alexandra Carter