Spatial and seasonal trends in net primary production

Net primary productivity varies greatly around Australia, with highest rates in coastal zones and in seas between Australia and its northern neighbours. Although there is a strong seasonal trend, increasing during spring-summer and decreasing in autumn-winter, average net primary productivity has declined in Australian waters by 12 % in the past 17 years (2002-2019). Given that primary production sets the carrying capacity of higher trophic levels (zooplankton, fish, birds and mammals), this decrease is likely to cause a reduction in the size of Australia’s fisheries.