Publications

Marine and Coastal Biodiversity of the Northern Territory
Marine Environmental Issues of the Northern Territory

Reports

Report	pdf
2006 Marine Debris Monitoring Report	1.38Mb

Fact Sheets

Fact Sheet	pdf
Corals in the NT	320Kb
Marine Debris	348Kb

Newsletters

Saltwater Science	pdf
February 2008	215Kb
August 2007	362Kb
March 2007	310Kb
January 2007	150Kb

Marine and Coastal Biodiversity of the Northern Territory

Groote Eylandt
(jpg 56Kb)

The Northern Territory’s marine environment is a vast region that spans 10,000 km and includes the Beagle Gulf bioregion, the coastlines of Arnhem Land and Kakadu and the Gulf of Carpentaria. This shallow water, tropical marine ecosystem has unique ecological and cultural values. Aboriginal people hold title to approximately 85% of the NT’s coast, and ‘Sea Country’ is a vital part of their cultural, spiritual and economic lives.

As part of the ‘Indo-Malay centre of biodiversity’, the region is typified by species rich, highly diverse marine communities with national and international conservation significance. The territory has the largest area of mangroves in Australia and these provide important breeding, feeding and nursery habitats for a range of valuable marine and freshwater species. Coral reef (pdf 320Kb) and seagrass meadows are critical feeding habitat for dugongs and turtles while intertidal mudflats and coastal saltmarshes provide important habitat for migratory seabirds.

Many endangered or threatened animals live in the region, including species of sawfish, sea snakes, pipefish, seahorses, sharks and rays. Six species of marine turtles live in northern waters and most are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered.

Marine environments in the NT are relatively pristine and thought to be primarily impacted by natural disturbances such as cyclones. Increased anthropogenic activities at local and regional scales now threaten many habitats and species. See Marine Environmental Issues of the Northern Territory.

A significant obstacle to the preparation of a comprehensive management plan for marine and coastal biodiversity has been the limited data available on marine habitats, their diversity and importance in the region. Systematic surveys and monitoring are needed to improve understanding of these complex ecosystems. The need to improve our understanding of marine and coastal environments in NT waters has been the impetus for recent surveys.

Did you know?

Boucaut Bay, Western Arnhem Land
(jpg 71Kb)

The NT has the biggest and most pristine catchments, tidal estuaries (137) and coastal wetlands in Australia
The NT has the largest extent of mangrove forest in Australia, with approximately 4,120sq km of forest and 49 species fringing the coasts
The mangrove, Avicennia integra, is endemic to the NT – with only 11 known populations
Six out of the seven species of marine turtles found in the world (Green, Olive Ridley, Hawksbill, Leatherback, Flat Back and Loggerhead) are found in Territory waters - all six are listed as threatened
The NT coast supports extensive nationally and internationally significant colonies of shorebirds, seabirds and waterbirds. Around 33 species of shorebird, 11 species of seabird and 14 species of waterbirds regularly use the NT’s coastal environment for breeding and feeding
NT waters contain significant populations of national and internationally threatened species including sawfish, sea snakes, pipefish and seahorses, sharks and rays.

Marine Environmental Issues of the Northern Territory

Image of intertidal rocky reef at Casuarina beach

Intertidal rocky reef at Casuarina beach
(jpg 86Kb)

Coastal environments in the NT are relatively intact and little impacted by activities that occur in more settled areas. However, pressures from within the NT and the nearby Arafura-Timor region are intensifying as they develop as centres for a range of activities. The State of the Environment Report and NT Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan recognise the following major threats facing NT marine environments and biodiversity:

Lack of knowledge

Gaps in scientific knowledge have made it difficult to evaluate the overall condition of the Territory’s coast and marine assets. Download National Oceans Office report. To date, there has been limited comprehensive habitat mapping within the Territory’s coastal waters and very little is known of the distribution and abundance of marine groups within these habitats. It is critical that we gather information and develop the knowledge to underpin ecosystem-based planning and management.

Image of crocodile skull found entangled in fishing net

Crocodile skull found entangled in fishing net
(jpg 90Kb)

Marine Debris

Marine debris is a serious threat to marine wildlife, causing mortality by ingestion or entanglement to creatures such as seabirds, turtles, fish, dugongs, dolphins and whales.

Marine Pests

The dumping of ballast water and marine weeds or inadequate anti-fouling measures by ships or boats visiting NT waters can potentially introduce harmful new species into our coastal and marine habitats.

Fisheries

Fishing in the Northern Territory includes commercial, recreational and indigenous activities. Potential impacts from these activities can be through direct mortality (over-harvesting of target species), indirect mortality (accidental catch of threatened species and by-catch) and habitat degradation.

Threatened Species

Many threatened species of international and national conservation significance live in this area. Download National Oceans Office report (pdf 5.9Mb) from the Department of Environment and Heritage website.

Climate Change

Image of bleached coral in Coburg Marine Park

Bleached coral in Coburg Marine Park
(jpg 49Kb)

Predicted changes in temperature, rainfall, cyclonic intensity and storm surge represent a significant risk to the marine environment of the NT. Specific impacts may include mangrove recession, coral bleaching (pdf 53Kb) and habitat damage due to increased cyclone frequency.

Shared Seas

The shared nature of the NT marine environment necessitates management strategies that recognise both indigenous cultural interests and issues within the Arafura-Timor region. Aboriginal people have a unique and enduring connection with the sea and it is critical that we develop complementary and cooperative marine research, monitoring and planning among indigenous groups, the NT community, industry and governments (NT, Commonwealth and international).

Effective management strategies must recognise international threats to key species and effective conservation of these species will need to consider threats in parts of their ranges outside Australia. Environmental issues in the Arafura-Timor region such as illegal or over fishing, marine debris and introduced species are already impacting NT waters and a coordinated international approach is needed to ameliorate these threats.

This Adobe PDF document may require a newer version of Adobe Reader than you are currently using. Click here to download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

News and Features

Marine Biodiversity