Darwin Harbour Integrated Marine Monitoring and Research Program
The Darwin Harbour Integrated Marine Monitoring and Research Program (IMMRP) is a 40-year voluntary environmental offset program.
The program is funded by INPEX-operated Ichthys LNG.
It's between the Northern Territory Government (NTG) and INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd, on behalf of Ichthys Joint Venture Partners.
It aims to enhance research and monitoring activities undertaken in the harbour, and has 4 themes:
- habitats
- benthic sediments
- water quality
- anthropogenic pressures.
The IMMRP applies long-term monitoring underpinned by a suite of pilot studies.
Monitoring reports
Read the program reports below.
Habitat monitoring
Habitat monitoring focuses on the mangroves.
It makes use of satellites and drones to watch mangrove extent and condition.
Reports
The below reports are on the Territory Stories website:
- Darwin Harbour Integrated Marine Monitoring and Research Program Mangrove Monitoring Report 2022 – 2023: Mangrove Health 2022
- Darwin Harbour integrated monitoring and research program Mangrove Monitoring Report 2021-2022: Mangrove Health 2016-2021
- Development of an integrated long-term mangrove monitoring program for the IMMRP project area. Darwin Harbour Mangrove Monitoring Plan 2021
- Development of an integrated long-term mangrove monitoring program for Darwin Harbour: Pilot project 1 (MP1) - Development of remote sensing for mangrove monitoring – Summary and recommendations
- Development of an integrated long-term mangrove monitoring program for Darwin Harbour. Sub-project B: Development of methodology to map mangrove forest extent using satellite sensors
- Monitoring mangrove forests using satellite imagery: Mangrove monitoring Sub-project D
- Exploring the utility of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to quantify mangrove biophysical parameters in Darwin Harbour
- Development of an integrated long-term mangrove monitoring program for Darwin Harbour. Sub-project A: Mangrove community mapping: Charles Point to Gunn Point 2016 Technical Report 19/2018D, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Northern Territory Government, Darwin, NT
- Review of research and monitoring of Darwin Harbour’s mangrove environment for the development of a long-term monitoring program.
Surveillance benthic sediment monitoring
Seafloor sediments are monitored across Darwin Harbour.
Checks are done to see if pollutant concentrations are higher than they should be due to widespread human activities.
They monitor to see if any changes are occurring in concentrations of the following:
- metals and metalloids
- hydrocarbons
- other constituents.
This program shouldn’t be confused with compliance monitoring programs. These programs are done to ensure that a regulated body conforms to:
- environmental laws
- regulations
- standards.
Read more about compliance and regulation on the NTEPA website.
Reports
Read the below reports:
- Darwin Harbour Integrated Marine Monitoring and Research Program Benthic Sediment Monitoring Report 2022-23 and ambient per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) study
- Benthic sediment monitoring plan for Darwin harbour: Version 1 - go to the Territory Stories website
- Darwin Harbour Sediment Monitoring Design Optimisation - go to the Australian Government’s Australian Institute of Marine Science website
- Assessment of sediment quality indicators for long term monitoring in Darwin Harbour: Final report - go to the Territory Stories website
- Sediment quality assessment of Middle Arm and West Arm, Darwin Harbour (2020): Survey record and data report
- Sediment quality assessment of Outer Darwin Harbour (2020): Survey record and data report
- Sediment quality assessment of East Arm, Darwin Harbour (2019): Survey record and data report
- Sediment quality sampling design for Darwin Harbour (Version 1)
- Darwin Harbour mangrove sediment: metal and arsenic dynamics
- Development of a long-term sediments monitoring program for Darwin Harbour: A final report on the Rod Surface Elevation Table – Marker Horizon Pilot project MP2
- Background concentrations of metals and metalloids and their distribution in Darwin Harbour sediment.
Water quality monitoring
This theme monitors the water quality in Darwin Harbour.
It builds on the department’s ongoing work to look after the water quality.
The department also publishes an annual Darwin Harbour Report Card.
Reports
The below reports are on the Territory Stories website:
- Identifying sources of surface water turbidity in the Elizabeth River
- Developing an integrated long-term monitoring program for Darwin Harbour. Water Quality Pilot Project WP1: Neap tide trial
- Developing an integrated long-term monitoring program for Darwin Harbour. Water Quality Pilot Project WP2: Intra-annual water quality variability
- Interim turbidity water quality objectives for dry season neap tide conditions in Darwin Harbour
- A risk assessment of water quality pollution of Darwin Harbour using modelled catchment impacts on water quality.
Anthropogenic pressure monitoring
The theme looks at the pressures on Darwin Harbour and catchment areas.
Reports
The below reports are on the Territory Stories website:
- Darwin Harbour Integrated Marine Monitoring and Research Program Pressure Monitoring Report 2022-23
- An exploration of the associations between pressures and stressors in Darwin Harbour water quality parameters
- Anthropogenic pressures on Darwin Harbour: Darwin Harbour Integrated Marine Monitoring and Research Program Monitoring Report 2021-22
- Anthropogenic pressures on Darwin Harbour: Darwin Harbour Integrated Marine Monitoring Program Monitoring Report 2020-21
- Anthropogenic pressures: An IMMRP long-term monitoring plan (Version 1)
- Developing an integrated long-term monitoring program for Darwin Harbour. Anthropogenic pressure project: Development of pressure indicators for Darwin Harbour.
Contact
For more information, call the Aquatic Group on 08 8999 3629.
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