Port of Cairns 2026 Dredge Spoil Disposal Area Benthic Study

Principal Investigator

This study will undertake benthic flora and fauna as well as sediment (particle size distribution (PSD) only) monitoring at the Port of Cairns DSDA following the same or comparable methodology of previous studies (undertaken at the previous disposal area) conducted in 2020 (BMT 2020a) and 2016 (Advisian 2016). Note previous surveys did not consider flora and thus monitoring of this aspect must be appropriately considered and designed including field, laboratory (if applicable) and data analysis methodology, and analyse data to assess and highlight spatial and temporal patterns in benthic communities and sediment PSD at and adjacent the DSDA to accept or reject the abovementioned LMDMP impact hypothesis (Section 2). It is acknowledged that this is the first time this study has been conducted at the DSDA and thus temporal analysis and discussion is not possible. However, previous studies conducted at the former disposal site (DMPA) and related results and patterns should be mentioned and used whenever possible and appropriate

30 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027

N/A