Latest Strategy progress reports available

The latest progress reports for implementation of the Marine Estate Management Strategy (Strategy) are now available, listed below:

• Marine Estate Management Strategy Implementation Annual Report 2021-22
• Marine Estate Management Authority Annual Report 2021-22
• Triannual Snapshot – outlining key achievements between 1 July and 31 October 2022

In 2021–22, we continued to work on more than 100 projects in collaboration with our many partners. Highlights from the 2021-22 period include:

• long term funding secured for the Strategy over the next six (6) years
• water quality improved in Wianamatta – South Creek through the introduction of new planning controls that manage stormwater and protect and restore aquatic habitat
• water quality improved at Wagonga Inlet in Narooma, through the construction of a natural oyster reef with our partners, as part of the Wagonga Inlet Living Shoreline project
• removal of fish barriers in the Richmond River, improving fish passage to over 250 km of river upstream
• maps for 110 NSW estuaries, showing potential mangrove and saltmarsh areas under different sea level rise and land use scenarios have been produced to help us prepare for the potential impacts of climate change
• management of Sea Country enhanced through two (2) Aboriginal-owned businesses successfully securing SMART drumline contracts on the NSW South Coast.  Aboriginal men from Yuin Country were awarded scientific dive certification to help monitor the health of Sea Country sub-surface. Several Sea Country videos were released to tell the story of the importance of Aboriginal culture and how people connect to Sea Country.

The Marine Estate Management Strategy Triannual Snapshot Report gives an update on the progress of many MEMS projects between 1 July and 31 October 2022. This snapshot is a great way to get up-to-date information on how projects are reducing threats to the marine estate, and what activities are planned in coming months. Some highlights from this report include:

• over 120 landholders responded to expressions of interest for Local Land Services to undertake on-ground works for riverside vegetation improvements along key estuaries
• a Marine Debris Threat and Risk Assessment was released
• audits of 11 Intermittently Closed and Open Lakes and Lagoons (ICOLL) were completed to guide their future management
• macrophyte maps for Merimbula Lake, Pambula Lake and Twofold Bay were published
  Sea Country Rangers were employed to progress the Plastic Collective project at Bowraville, reusing discarded marine plastics.

All reports are available on the Reporting progress page or Annual reports page.