Water Turbidity

AUS-TSR-AQU-WTU General Low confidence

Benchmark Value

50 NTU

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: MaximumOnly

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 15 benchmarks together — the OptimalRange form drives the primary score, while 14 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

OptimalRange Primary MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard LowerThreshold Guard OptimalRange Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

Experimental work on barramundi has used 50 NTU to represent a "turbid" environment that alters behaviour and physiology.

Metric Definition:

Turbidity level representing a significantly turbid environment affecting barramundi behaviour and physiology.

Benchmark Definition:

Detrimental turbidity threshold for barramundi aquaculture.

Justification:

Supported by experimental studies showing behavioural and physiological stress at this turbidity level.

Sources (1)

Barramundi culture in Australia - Responsible Seafood Advocate GreyLiterature

Barramundi culture in Australia - Responsible Seafood Advocate

View Source

Supporting Sources (26)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Community uses and values of water informing water quality improvement planning: a study from the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

(PDF) Community uses and values of water informing water quality improvement planning: a study from the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Community uses and values of water informing water quality improvement planning: a study from the Great Barrier Reef region, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

(PDF) Water quality monitoring in recirculating aquaculture systems - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Effect of different total suspended solids levels on a Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) BFT culture system during biofloc formation | Request PDF - ResearchGate, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

An Aquaculture Industry for Queensland, accessed July 21, 2025

Regulatory Framework Journal

NSW Land Based Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy

View Source

Assessing Water Quality - Secondary Education Years 9 to 12 - Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch, accessed August 12, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessing water quality - ACT Waterwatch.

View Source

Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality, accessed July 19, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Australian Alps Liaison Committee (AALC). (2011). Caring for our Australian Alps catchments: A climate change action strategy. Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.

View Source

Australian prawn farming manual Part 4-9.pdf

Contextual Support

Effects of suspended solids in shrimp biofloc systems - Responsible Seafood Advocate, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Barramundi - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Barramundi - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Barramundi - NSW Department of Primary Industries, accessed July 25, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Real time monitoring of water quality and mechanisation of pond management to boost productivity and increase profit in Barramundi (Lates calcarifer), accessed July 24, 2025,

View Source

Biofloc Technology: A Simple, Green Way to Farm Fish and Shrimp, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Biofloc Technology: A Simple, Green Way to Farm Fish and Shrimp, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

CSIRO Research Publications Repository - Home Page, accessed August 4, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

The state of play on Norfolk Island's reef, accessed July 27, 2025

View Source

Preview of Daintree and Mossman River Basins Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives - Queensland Environment Department, accessed July 21, 2025,

Daintree and Mossman River Basins Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives - Queensland Environment Department, accessed July 21, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Daintree and Mossman River Basins Environmental Values and Water Quality Objectives - Queensland Environment Department

View Source

Daintree catchment water quality targets, accessed July 21, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Journal

Daintree catchment water quality targets, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Default guideline values - Water Quality Australia, accessed August 12, 2025

Regulatory Framework Government

ANZECC (2000) Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality.

View Source

FAO-Lates calcarifer Bloch - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

FAO-Lates calcarifer Bloch - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

HOW TURBIDITY AFFECTS FISH BEHAVIOUR - Active Angling New Zealand, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

HOW TURBIDITY AFFECTS FISH BEHAVIOUR - Active Angling New Zealand, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Improving Water Quality in the Wet Tropics, Australia: A Conceptual Framework and Case Study - MDPI, accessed July 18, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

NSW Land Based Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Management - WaterNSW, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Management - WaterNSW, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Marine Monitoring Program - Inshore water quality monitoring (AIMS ..., accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program for Inshore Water Quality - Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Turbidity Time-series Data, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source

Preview of Modeling Environmental Impacts of Intensive Shrimp Aquaculture: A Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Ecosystem Approach - MDPI, accessed July 21, 2025,

Modeling Environmental Impacts of Intensive Shrimp Aquaculture: A Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Ecosystem Approach - MDPI, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Modeling Environmental Impacts of Intensive Shrimp Aquaculture: A Three-Dimensional Hydrodynamic Ecosystem Approach - MDPI, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Monitoring water quality | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Declining water quality - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, accessed August 3, 2025

View Source

NSW Marine Waters Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy

Regulatory Framework Journal

National Aquaculture Statement

View Source

OPTIMUM CONDITION OF WATER FOR AQUACULTURE | Agriallis, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

OPTIMUM CONDITION OF WATER FOR AQUACULTURE | Agriallis, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Turbidity and light attenuation in coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Turbidity and light attenuation in coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef - ResearchOnline@JCU

View Source

Water quality | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality | AIMS - The Australian Institute of Marine Science, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Water quality guidelines - Queensland Environment Department, accessed August 1, 2025,

Regulatory Framework Government

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (2000)

View Source

Water Quality Improvement Plan Douglas Shire Far North Queensland, accessed July 21, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Context dependency of top-down and bottom-up effects in a Northern Australian tropical river | Freshwater Science: Vol 34, No 2 - The University of Chicago Press: Journals, accessed July 21, 2025,

View Source

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Rainforests
Land Use Aquaculture
Assessment Not Stated
Evidence Type DegradationThreshold

Lifecycle

Status Rejected
Version 2
Effective From 5 Jun 2026
Effective To 5 Jun 2026

Notes

Represents a significant stressor level for key aquaculture species. AssessmentContext defaulted to 'Not Stated' because the source document did not state one. Pipeline quarantine: Lower confidence than existing active benchmark v1 (Moderate). Rejected by operator on 2026-06-05 11:44 UTC

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSR-AQU-WTU family.