The report provides an evaluation of the general characteristics of the Delaware Inlet and its contributing catchment and includes: 1. A compilation of background information relevant to the ecological condition of Delaware Inlet, 2. A digitised historical vegetation map of Delaware Inlet (1983), and 3. A preliminary ranking of the ecological status and values of Delaware Inlet - Decision Matrix. Range of depth: < 1.2 m neap tide to> 4.2 spring tide. Modifications to the Delaware Inlet and its contributing catchment include: Conversion of previously forested land for agriculture post-European settlement; potential enrichment effects from introduced nitrogen-fixing vegetation and addition of pasture fertiliser; conversion of large catchment areas to pine plantation and subsequent harvesting and effect on sediment; effect of the development of roading and flood control; adverse effects related to reduced water quality; the invasion and spread of the exotic bivalve Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oyster). Actions required include: broad-scale habitat mapping and fine-scale assessment of individual reference sites; use of standardised methods for comparison with other estuaries in the region and serve as a point-in-time baseline for future monitoring; need data describing water and shellfish faecal indicator concentrations in Delaware Inlet.

A survey was made of the local environment and flora and fauna of Delaware Inlet, Nelson, during February-April 1976. Extent of site = Delaware Inlet. Measured variables = Five textural surfaces (mud, sand, gravel, cobbles, and shell). Five principal types of macroscopic vegetation (Salicomia ausiralis, eelgrass Zostera muelleri, Sea lettuce Viva lactuca, Enteromorpha). The four dominant genera of molluscs (mud snails Amphibola crenata, cockles Chione stutchburyi, pipis Paphies australe, mussels Mytilus edulis) occupying distinct habitats. Water parameters (salinity, nitrogen). Depth range: 2 m (neap) to 4 m (Spring tide). Sampling protocol = mapping.

Information from various farms around the Marlborough Sounds - collected as part of initial establishment of farms, annual monitoring or to change consent conditions. Diverse array of farms but collectively may be viewed as a long-term dataset. Temporal coverage: Date of first record unknown, but is ongoing Number of sites: A number of farms around the sounds Main marine environment sampled: Coastal Depth zone: Unknown Sedimentary type: Primarily soft Community association: Unknown Sampling method: Diver observations - camera/video, drop cams, grab samples, bathymetry, invertebrate cores Parameters collected: Sediment chemistry, community composition, mussel shell drop-off Measured variables: Presence/absence of species, community composition, various sediment parameters Species/community data: Benthic invertebrates, algae Other data collection: Unknown Will continue to collect data as and when required Quality assurance: Yes – for sediment parameters

Survey to assess sediment levels near the end of the NZAS wharf using sediment core sampling and underwater video, and to collect and analyse sediment samples for a suite of potential chemical contaminants. Temporal coverage: from 2004, last record 2009 (ongoing?) Number of sites: 12 sites in 2004, 7 sites in 2009 Sampling frequency: 5 yearly Main marine environment sampled: Coastal Depth zone: Coastal Sedimentary type: Soft-sediment Community association: Mud/sand Sampling method: Photographs, sediment cores Parameters collected: Sediment chemistry, photographic video survey, sediment levels Measured variables: Photograph of seabed, water clarity, sediment grain-size, sediment organic content (AFDW), sediment metals (AL, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, Zn, TBT), sediment levels, video survey (sediment type, sediment accumulation, epifauna/epiflora). Species/community data: Unknown Other data collection: Unknown Quality assurance: Yes

Monitoring of the benthos in the vicinity of the Pan Pac sawmill/pulp mill ocean outfall. Temporal coverage: 2002-2007 (on-going) Number of sites: 2002: 14 stations 2007: 11 stations Whirinaki, Hawkes Bay Sampling Frequency: 5 yearly. In 2010 an AEE was done as part of changing the pulp mill treatment process. No further marine data was collected for it, however. Main marine environment sampled: Coastal (Bay) Depth zone: Intertidal Sediment type: Soft Community association: Gravel/sand Sampling method: Sediment and macrofaunal cores Parameters collected: Sediment, in- & epi-fauna Measured variables: Sediment: particle size, organic content, RPD layers, photomicroscopy (presence/absence of pulp fibre); Community composition Species/Community data: Benthic invertebrates Other data collected: Surveys were previously conducted at this location for the historic water right (Beca Steven 1989, Beca Steven 1991) and as part of the consent application process (Beca Steven 1997). An AEE was written by Cawthron in 2010 as part of changing the pulp mill process. Collection: ongoing Quality assurance: Yes

This record summarises a monitoring survey of receiving water from Bell Island regional sewerage outfall in Waimea Inlet and Tasman Bay. Benthic surveys are done at the same time. Temporal coverage: from 2001 (ongoing) Number of sites: 19 sites in Waimea Inlet, 4 sites at nearby Tahunanui & Rabbit Island beaches (2001), 12 in Waimea Inlet, 11 in Tasman Bay (2005), 12 in Waimea Inlet, 11 in Tasman Bay (2006), 13 in Waimea Inlet, 6 in Tasman Bay (2011) Sampling Frequency = Irregular (2001, 2005, 2006, 2011) Main marine environment sampled: Estuarine Depth zone: N/A Sediment type: Soft Community association: Mudflats Sampling method: Water samples, in-situ water measurements, shellfish samples, field observation Parameters collected: Water chemistry, shellfish, water bacteriological analyses Measured variables: Ammonia-N, Nitrate-N, Nitrite-N, TN, DIN, DRP, TP, Faecal coliforms (seawater and shellfish), enterococci (seawater and shellfish), salinity, temperature, chl-a, turbidity, phytoplankton Species/Community data: Shellfish (cockles, tuatua, green-lipped mussels) Other data collected: Benthic survey carried out at same time as this study Collection: ongoing Quality assurance: Yes

Consent requirement survey to monitor potential ecological effects on fish processing effluent from a seabed diffuser located 350 m offshore. Temporal coverage: 1980 (baseline) 2000-2011 (on-going monitoring) Number of sites: 9 sites Nelson Haven Boulder Bank, Nelson Sampling Frequency: 5 yearly Main marine environment sampled: Coastal (Boulder bank) Depth zone: Subtidal (7-8 m) Sediment type: Primarily hard Community association: Rocky reef Sampling method: Photo-quadrats, sediment cores Parameters collected: Sediment, epi-fauna (images only) Measured variables: Sediment: chemistry, particle size, organic content, TKN, HG levels; Community: epi-fauna composition (using dots on rocks (DOR) analysis from images Species/Community data: Benthic invertebrates, algae Other data collected: Unknown Collection: ongoing Quality assurance: Yes

This record summarises data from annual biological and continuous physical monitoring in Doubtful Sound. Temporal coverage: from 1997 (ongoing) Number of sites: 24 sites in total - 9 physical and 15 biological. Physical data:The continuous temperature and salinity data are collected every 15 minutes. The main marine environment sampled: fiord rock walls. Depth zone: Intertidal and subtidal 0 - 16 m. Sedimentary type: hard Community association: rocky reef Sampling method: Conductivity and temperature sensors, photoquadrats, diver observations. Parameters collected: Water physical parameters, community and single species data. Measured variables: Salinity (at 2 or 10 depths), temperature (at 10 depths), invertebrate abundance & diversity, community composition, indicator species (Cnemidocarpa sp., brachiopods, black coral) abundances, echinoderm abundances Species/community data: Benthic invertebrates, algae. Photographs only. Other data collection: Soft sediment data collected (only 1 sampling event in 2011). Particle grain size, ash free dry weight, infauna, cockles and pipi size frequency. This collection is ongoing as part of resource consent requirements. Quality assurance = unknown.

Monitoring of the Port Nelson dredge disposal area for contamination. Temporal coverage: first record 1992 (ongoing) Number of sites: 9 sites (3 in each of three zones - dumping area, spreading zone, control zone) Sampling frequency: Once in the second year after consent (1995) and thereafter at 3-yearly intervals. In 2007 this changed to 5-yearly intervals. Main marine environment sampled: Marine Depth zone: Subtidal Sedimentary type: Soft Community association: Mud Sampling method: Sediment cores, infauna cores, shellfish collection Parameters collected: Sediment contamination, infauna community composition, shellfish tissue contamination Measured variables: Infaunal community composition, sediment metals (Cu. Pb, ZN), sediment grain size, shellfish tissue (Austrofusus glans) contamination (organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, Hg), shellfish imposex assays Species/community data: Benthic infauna Other data collection: There was a baseline/preliminary survey carried out by the Cawthron Institute in 1992 (Roberts 1992) Ongoing as part of their consent Quality assurance: Yes