Reporting

The Annual Reports provide regular updates on the progress of the Port Phillip Bay Environmental Management Plan 2017-2027 (EMP)’s implementation as outlined in the Delivery Plan. Annual Reports include case studies, achievement metrics and detail new activities added to the Delivery Plan.

Report cards, often using indices, have been established to evaluate the health of Port Phillip Bay under the structure of the EMP's framework. These report cards will support Annual Reporting, enable annual EMP priority setting and support the development of targets for the EMP's Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement framework.

Indices enable simplified reporting on complex information and are used worldwide for reporting on environmental condition and management actions.

The following indices are reported against annually for the EMP:

• Marine and Coastal Stewardship Index, reporting on the stewardship goal.
• Eutrophication Index, reporting on effects of nutrient enrichment.
• Litter Index, reporting on the state of litter and its impact on Port Phillip Bay.
• Long-term microbial water quality, reporting on the pathogens (human health).
• Marine Biodiversity Index, reporting on the habitat and marine life.
• Marine Biosecurity Index, reporting on arrival of non-indigenous species and key biosecurity species in Victoria.
• Index of Estuarine Condition, which establishes a baseline of estuarine condition for future assessment.
• Water Quality Index, developed annually by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria and used by the EMP to report on the nutrients and pollutants.