Proctor, M., Carter, A., Savo, K., Bee, R., George, X., Webster, C., Wilkinson, J., Collier, C., Groom, R., and McMahon, K. (2025) Marine Habitats of Kurtijar Indigenous Protected Area. External Commissioned Report. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

Seagrass meadows across remote northern Australia provide critical habitat for dugongs, turtles, fish, prawns, and other key species, yet data on their extent and condition remain limited. Few large-scale or long-term monitoring programs exist, meaning regional planning often proceeds with minimal understanding of potential impacts on these ecosystems.

NESP Marine and Coastal Hub Project 3.5 – Partnerships for Seagrass Research and Protection – addresses these gaps by consolidating existing data, identifying priorities for new surveys, generating new datasets, and improving access to seagrass information to support better management and sustainable development. Within this broader program, the Kurtijar Sea Country Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in the southeast Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, was identified as a priority area for assessment. The IPA extends from the Norman River near Karumba to the Staaten River and includes the Staaten–Gilbert Fish Habitat Area, supporting diverse marine habitats, endangered species, and fisheries that are commercially, recreationally, and culturally important.

Item ID:	93619
Item Type:	Report (External Commissioned Report)
ISBN:	978-1-922640-29-1
Copyright Information:	© 2025 James Cook University. All material in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence except content supplied by third parties and logos. Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be emailed to alexandra.carter@jcu.edu.au.
Date Deposited:	07 Sep 2026 05:34
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3108 Plant biology > 310801 Phycology (incl. marine grasses) @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410401 Conservation and biodiversity @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1805 Marine systems and management > 180501 Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems @ 50% 21 INDIGENOUS > 2104 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and culture > 210402 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connection to land and environment @ 50%
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