Our coastal and marine ecosystem health
To assess coastal and marine ecosystem health we measure aspects of coastal and marine biodiversity, sediment quality (also known as benthic health) and water quality. Our monitoring has so far been largely focused on estuaries given they are the receiving environment of many stressors from land and freshwater and because of their high use and value. We are currently developing our methods for monitoring ecosystem health in other areas, such as rocky reefs.
We have published methods and results from some of our estuarine state of the environment monitoring in technical reports, webpages, and in environmental indicators, and are trialling new ways to present this information, such as in our marine report card for Whaingaroa (Raglan) Harbour.