Extreme weather impacts to coastal marine ecosystems

This project will focus on the nearshore marine coastal zone and use various tools (remote and in situ) to detect the immediate impacts to key marine ecosystems.

Cyclone Gabrielle significantly impacted the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti nearshore marine coastal zone, an area of vital social, cultural, aesthetic and economic importance. The mobilisation of sediments and debris associated with these events has significant consequences to the receiving catchments, and ultimately the ocean where this material is discharged.

The focus of this work is to quickly and effectively acquire data to determine the stressors (sediment, woody debris) and the long-lasting impacts on invertebrates and other bottom-dwelling organisms, fish stocks and breeding areas.