A revised draft of the Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality was released for public comment on 19 July 1999. The Guidelines represent a major shift in approach over previous Guidelines published in Australia and abroad, and feature:

• For the first time, recognition of aquaculture and harvesting of aquatic food species as a separate environmental value to be protected.

• For aquatic ecosystems:

  • For the first time, guidelines for sediment quality and detailed description of biological assessment.

  • Flexibility to refine the default guideline values for specific sites using a risk-based approach.

  • Focus on issues rather than levels of specific contaminants.

  • For physical and chemical stressors, a greater range of ecosystem types represented, as well as an introduction to environmental flows.