Health of Marlborough estuaries revealed

A report to Council’s Environment and Planning Committee about the health of the region’s 13 estuaries has revealed several important findings.

Senior Coastal Scientist Katie Littlewood said the estuaries were assessed for various environmental indicators and understanding their condition was essential for proper management.

“Estuaries act as vital buffers between land and sea, delivering essential ecosystem services like maintaining biodiversity, providing habitat and nursery grounds for wildlife, and aiding in coastal protection against storms,” she said.

“Findings indicate that the inner estuaries of Tōtaranui/Queen Charlotte Sound are in ‘fair to good’ condition, benefiting from healthy seagrass beds and native forest catchments despite some human modifications. The outer estuaries in this region are rated ‘very good’, with minimal human impact enhancing their ecological value.”

However, Ms Littlewood noted that not all findings are positive.

“Kura te Au/Tory Channel is considered to be in ‘fair to poor’ condition, due to shoreline modifications and other environmental stressors that have significantly diminished the estuaries’ ecological health,” she said. “This reminds us of the growing human pressures impacting our estuarine ecosystems.”

The Council aims to use these insights to monitor trends over time, implement necessary management measures, and ensure the sustainability of Marlborough’s precious estuarine ecosystems for future generations.

Go to more information about the state of the region’s estuaries