Broadscale Environmental Monitoring Program (BEMP) sites

This dataset depicts the location of the Broadscale Environmental Monitoring Program (BEMP) sites. It was compiled from data provided by EPA Tasmania, IMAS and published reports.
BEMP was initiated in 2009 by the State Government to provide knowledge and information on ecosystem function in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Huon Estuary. BEMPs have been developed for all marine farming regions. The objective of each program is to document (on an ongoing basis) broadscale spatial and temporal trends for key environmental parameters, allowing assessment of the environmental effects of finfish aquaculture in Tasmania. Marine farming licence conditions include participation in respective BEMPs.
The BEMP program initially covered assessment of water column and sediment health at a broadscale level but has been expanded to include inshore reef, deep-reef and seagrass distribution and health. Seagrass monitoring occurs over transects. In this dataset, only the start location is displayed. Sediment sampling includes benthic infauna, stable isotopes, particle size, visual assessment, redox analysis, and sulphide measurements. Visual assessment, redox and sulphide analysis is carried out each year, while analysis of benthic infauna, stable isotopes and particle size is undertaken every four years. In the intervening years these samples are collected, preserved and retained. Water quality analytes include physico-chemical parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen and salinity), nutrients (dissolved nutrients: ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate, nutrients: total nitrogen, total phosphorous), chlorophyll a and phytoplankton species counts. Water quality sampling is undertaken monthly from May to January and fortnightly from February to April.