A new report has shown environmental conditions in Macquarie Harbour continue to improve since a major decline three years ago.
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The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies released its latest survey results of the harbour on Friday as part of its ongoing monitoring of oxygen levels and ecology at the lowest level body of water.
Project leader Jeff Ross said the report showed sediment health continued to improve throughout the harbour.
"The abundance and numbers of benthic species seen at the majority of both lease and externals sites have returned to, or are closely approaching, levels observed before the major decline seen in spring 2016 and early 2017," he said.
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He said sediment conditions had improved as had the harbour's seabed.
But Dr Ross said oxygen levels were still lower than historical levels.
"Through spring 2019, bottom water oxygen levels declined due to higher river flows and limited oxygen oceanic recharge," he said.
"It wasn't until late December that we observed notable oceanic recharge and replenishment of bottom water oxygen."
The next IMAS report will be available in mid-2020.
