Marine Monitoring Program: Annual report for inshore seagrass monitoring 2014-2015

Abstract

[Extract] The Marine Monitoring Program (herein referred to as the MMP) undertaken in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon assesses the long-term effectiveness of the Australian and Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan) and the Australian Government’s initiative, formerly known as Reef Rescue. Established in 2005 to help assess the long-term status and health of GBR ecosystems, the MMP is a critical component in assessing improvements in regional water quality as land management practices are improved across Reef catchments. The program forms an integral part of the Reef Plan Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program (P2R program) supported through Reef Plan. This includes an annual report card summarising progress towards Reef Plan objectives. This report details the results of sampling that has occurred under the MMP to assess the condition of inshore seagrass ecosystems of the GBR and identify responses to the environmental drivers. It also summarises results as report card scores for inclusion in the GBR-wide report card.