Benthic Monitoring and Demersal Fish surveys in Limmen Marine park

Marine habitats of the southern Gulf of Carpentaria (GoC) have long been identified as ecologically and culturally significant, supporting large areas of seagrass, high densities of dugongs and turtles, and traditional, commercial and recreational fisheries. Recent large-scale habitat surveys of Marra Sea Country (including the Limmen Marine Park (Cth) and Limmen Bight Marine Park (NT), Yanyuwa Indigenous Protected Area (Sir Edward Pellews), and South East Arnhem Land (Roper River to Blue Mud Bay) in the Northern Territory, have highlighted the healthy and diverse marine habitats in the GoC. However, little is known about the demersal fish communities these habitats support, including seagrass, algae, coral and sponge gardens, both within the Limmen Marine Park and coastal adjacent waters.
The Sub‐contractor will contribute towards marine benthic habitat and fish research within the Marine Park and adjacent areas, together with James Cook University researchers, li-Anthawirriyarra rangers and NT Parks and Wildlife rangers. The Sub‐contractor will record traditional knowledge during benthic surveys and during community consults and assist with final reporting to include a framework for the development of both-ways knowledge monitoring and recommendations for the Marine Park’s co‐management.