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.

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

Environmental monitoring and reporting in accordance with resource consents for salmon farming. Temporal coverage: 2011 (on-going) Number of sites: 6 salmon farms, 5-10 stations per farm in Queen Charlotte Sound (Ruakaka, Te Pangu, Clay Point, Otanerau) and Pelorus Sound (Forsyth Bay, Waihinau) Sampling Frequency: Annual Main marine environment sampled: Coastal (Sounds) Depth zone: Subtidal Sediment type: Soft Community association: Mud Sampling method: Grab samples, drop cameras, Van Dorn sampler, field observations Parameters collected: Sediment, water, in-fauna, bacterial Measured variables: Sediment: total free sulphides, redox potential, particle size, organic content, odour, metal concentrations (Cu, Zn), sediment outgassing; Community: in-fauna abundance and diversity; Bacterial mat coverage; Water column: near-bottom dissolved oxygen, nutrients (nitrate-N, nitrite-N, ammoniacal-N and dissolved reactive phosphorous) Species/Community data: Benthic invertebrates Other data collected: Rocky reef monitoring is also carried out for Te Pangu and Clay Point Collection: ongoing Quality assurance: Yes

Annual monitoring of rocky reefs to ascertain impact of 2 nearby salmon farms. Temporal coverage: Te Pangu – from 2009, Clay Point – from 2007 (ongoing) Number of sites: 2 farms (8 sites) Sampling frequency: Annual Main marine environment sampled: Coastal Depth zone: Subtidal/coastal Sedimentary type: Hard Community association: Rocky reef Sampling method: Permanent quadrat photographs Parameters collected: Community composition Measured variables: Presence/absence, condition, abundance/diversity/area occupied by conspicuous biota Species/community data: Benthic invertebrates, algae Other data collection: Annual monitoring of the salmon farms is also conducted by the Cawthron Institute- sediment & water chemistry primarily. Quality assurance: Yes

Lyttelton Port Company’s (LPC) maintenance dredging. Temporal coverage: from 1992 (ongoing) Number of sites: 12 sites (disposal zones, outer harbour control zones, upper harbour regions) Sampling frequency: 1992 baseline survey, a repeat of the survey following granting of permit (1994) and 5 yearly surveys thereafter Main marine environment sampled: Coastal Depth zone: Subtidal/Intertidal Sedimentary type: Soft Community association: Mud Sampling method: Sediment cores, infauna cores, shellfish collection, in-situ water sampling Parameters collected: Sediment physico-chemical properties, infauna community composition, shellfish contamination, water quality Measured variables: Sediment (grain size, organic content), infaunal community composition, intertidal survey (substrate characteristics, zonations patterns of flora/fauna), water quality (salinity, temperature, DO, secchi). Except for in 1992, sediments were also analysed for contaminants (SVOCs, organotins, aliphatic hydrocarbons, trace metals) along with fauna (organotins, SVOCs, trace metals). Species/community data: Benthic invertebrates, intertidal epibiota & algae Other data collection: Unknown Ongoing as part of their consent Quality assurance: Yes

This record summarises the state of the environment monitoring for Waimea Estuary.Waimea Estuary was one of the estuaries used during the initial development of the Estuary Monitoring Protocol (EMP) Temporal coverage: from 2011 (ongoing) Number of sites: 4 Sampling Frequency: 5 yearly Main marine environment sampled: Estuarine Depth zone: Intertidal Sediment type: Soft Community association: Mudflats Sampling method: Sediment cores, infauna cores, photos, field observation Parameters collected: Infauna/epifauna communities, physical parameters, benthic microalgae, benthic macroalgae Measured variables: epifauna/infauna diversity & abundances Metals, TN, TP, AFDW, Grain-size, Chl-a, , RPD layer, and in 2001 % cover of macroalgae Species/Community data: Benthic invertebrates, and in 2001 macroalgae (? 0.5 mm) Other data collected: unknown Collection: ongoing Quality assurance: Unknown

This record summarises the Tasman bay survey data collected by TASCAM buoy and associated monitoring. Temporal coverage: from 2006 (ongoing) Number of sites: 1 Sampling Frequency: 5 yearly Main marine environment samples: Coastal Depth zone: subtidal/coastal Sediment type: Soft Community association: Mud Sampling method: TASCAM buoy (3 depths), dropcams, infauna & sediment cores Parameters collected: Infauna/epifauna communities, physical parameters (2006 & 2011).Water column chemistry (2011) Measured variables: epifauna/infauna abundances & diversity, sediment grain size, sediment nutrients (N &P) (2006 & 2011). Conductivity, water temperature, chl-a, turbidity, wind velocity/direction, air temperature, barometric pressure, current velocity/direction (2011) Species/Community data: Benthic invertebrates and macrophytes Other data collected: unknown Collection: ongoing Quality assurance: Unknown