2025 Gladstone Harbour Report Card Launched

The 11 th annual Gladstone Harbour Report Card, prepared by the Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership (GHHP) was released on 20 November, containing updated results for the harbour’s Environmental and Economic components.

Beginning with a pilot report card in 2014 that assessed harbour health across six basic indicator groups, the 11th annual Gladstone Harbour Report Card now provides an in-depth assessment of 33 different indicators ranging from mud crabs and seagrass to economic performance and community wellbeing.

Each indicator is graded from Very Good (A) to Very Poor (E) and is developed by GHHP’s Independent Science Panel using data collected by specialist research organisations across the region.

“The Report Card is produced through the combined efforts of GHHP’s 22 Partners, who work together to support the long-term health of Gladstone Harbour,” said Professor Iain Gordon, Independent Chair of GHHP.

In the 2025 Report Card, the Environment component remained stable with a Good (B) grade, with improvements seen across indicators such as mud crabs, fish health, seagrass, and fish recruitment.

“It’s encouraging to see improvements across the harbour,” said Professor John Rolfe, Chair of GHHP’s Independent Science Panel. “In particular, Seagrass rose from a score of 0.68 in 2024 to 0.81 in 2025 – one of the highest results recorded since monitoring began in 2002, through Gladstone Ports Corporation’s Long-Term Monitoring Program. However, it is disappointing to see Coral remaining in Very Poor condition, with its lowest score since the report card began.”

All three indicators of Fish and Crabs also improved in grade: Fish health (Very Good, A), Fish recruitment (Good, B), and Mud Crabs (Satisfactory, C). Within the Mud crab sub-indicators, abundance remained at a Poor (D), while rust lesions dropped a grade to Good (B) because of increased levels in Calliope Estuary and Rodds Bay. However, sex ratio improved from a Very Poor (E) in 2024 to a Satisfactory (C) in 2025, with more male crabs over the legal-size limit being caught in the summer sampling months, resulting in an overall improved score for Mud crabs.

“The Fish Health Assessment Index (HAI) was also reassessed in 2025, for the first time since 2021,” said Professor Rolfe. “This is a more thorough assessment of the health of individual fish, based on organ and tissue analyses. The good news is that Fish HAI received a Very Good (A) grade.”

Water and Sediment Quality, using data provided through the Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program, achieved a Very Good (A) grade for the 11 th consecutive year, with assessments of metals and metalloids, nutrients, and physicochemical properties.

The Economic component received a Good (B), the same grade since monitoring began in 2015. Economic Performance (Very Good, A) and Economic Stimulus (Satisfactory, C) were both reassessed in 2025 and received similar scores to the 2024 Report Card. Owing to stability of the indicators, the Cultural and Social components and the Economic Value indicator group were not reassessed, with the grades from 2022 carried forward to this report card.

“Our vision is simple: a harbour that’s healthy, accessible, and resilient, now and into the future,” said Professor Gordon. “The Report Card is one way we measure our progress towards that shared goal.”

Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Minister for Science and Innovation Andrew Powell said the Queensland Government is committed to helping communities across the state improve the health of local waterways.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in these report cards for their dedication to making a difference for all Queenslanders,” Minister Powell said.

“Improving water quality takes a collaborative approach between all levels of government, scientists, industry and the agricultural sector, conservation groups and local communities. “

The Queensland Government is proud to support your ongoing efforts with an investment of $1.25 million annually into five regional waterway report card partnerships.

“This long-term commitment with the support of the federal government will deliver significant improvements for our ecosystem and help secure the future of the Great Barrier Reef.”

Both the Queensland and Australian governments provide funding to five regional waterway report card partnerships within the catchment of the Great Barrier Reef, including GHHP. GHHP is also supported by local government, industry, First Nations, community and research organisations. For further information and to view the full Report Card results, visit ghhp.org.au

WHEN WAS THE DATA COLLECTED FOR THE 2025 REPORT CARD?

The 2025 Report Card covers monitoring undertaken in the period between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Owing to stability of the indicators, the Cultural and Social components and the Economic Value indicator group were not reassessed, with the grades from 2022 carried forward to this report card. Mangroves utilises data from the 2024 Report Card.