Darwin Harbour is a unique tropical estuary that contains the Northern Territory’s largest stand of mangroves. The Harbour covers approximately 450 square kilometres including 23 square kilometres of inter-tidal mangrove and saltmarsh communities. Darwin is one of the few cities in the world with such a precious marine and coastal environment on its doorstep.
 
Big news for Darwin Harbour. Many years of continued pressure from the community and the Environment Centre has resulted in some significant achievements in 2003.
 
There have been two major announcements from the government. Firstly, the harbour’s Mangroves (from high to low tide water marks) were rezoned and are now ‘Conservation Zone’. Secondly, the long awaited and long overdue Darwin Harbour Plan of Management was tabled in Parliament. Both announcements do not guarantee protection of the natural and cultural values of the Harbour; however, they do provide many opportunities to advance conservation. It is now up to the government, assisted by community guidance and pressure, to ensure plans and promises deliver REAL protection for Darwin Harbour.

see http://www.ecnt.org/html/cur_marine_darwin_overview.html for more information