What are nursery habitats?
Coastal habitats such as seagrass meadows, mangroves, and saltmarshes offer safe havens for juvenile fish – this is called a nursery habitat. Different species need different things from their nursery habitats, depending on factors such as protection, levels of predation, and proximity to other habitat types.
By supporting juvenile abundance, growth, and survival, nursery habitats are critical to maintaining healthy adult populations.
Celebrating the work of women in science
Each year, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February) to acknowledge the contributions of the many women monitoring, researching, restoring, and protecting tropical ecosystems.
We asked seven TropWATER researchers about their experiences – what led them to working in science, what they love about their job, and some of the challenges they’ve faced.
Mapping benthic habitats and fish communities in Marra Sea Country
We are working with Marranbala and li-Anthawirriyarra Rangers to survey the diverse seafloor habitats and fish communities of Marra Sea Country in the Gulf of Carpentaria. During these surveys, we are providing hands-on technical training to help establish an ongoing Ranger-led monitoring program of the rich biodiversity in their Sea Country.
So far, we have identified over 100 species of fish and 80 species of invertebrates, and mapped seagrass forming a meadow over 65 km long.
Assessing the impacts of flooding after Tropical Cyclone Jasper
Tropical Cyclone Jasper made landfall in Far North Queensland in December 2023, bringing record-breaking rainfall to the region and causing widespread flooding that washed sediments across coastal habitats. The affected region included part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland and Great Barrier Reef World Heritage areas.
We partnered with Rangers to survey coastal habitats in 2024 and 2025 and assess the impacts of the flooding on mangrove forests, inshore coral reefs, and seagrass meadows.
Our research and projects
We provide industries, communities and governments with science-based solutions to better manage, protect and restore our tropical water ecosystems. Explore our research and projects.
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Our services and capabilities
We provide science-based solutions, stakeholder training, and innovative monitoring technologies. Our capabilities include water quality and eDNA labs, specialised training programs, technology development, and a range of environmental assessments and restoration efforts.
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