Report finds Darwin Harbour biodiversity rivals Ningaloo Reef | ABC NEWS

New research has revealed Darwin Harbour's biodiversity, including its wide range of rare species, rivals that of the World Heritage-protected Ningaloo Reef.

The report — commissioned by Environment Centre NT and released on Thursday by independent consultancy Oceanwise Australia — found hundreds of species of fish, birds, marine creatures and trees call the capital city's harbour home.

Ben Fitzpatrick, a co-author of the report and the director of Oceanwise, said the Northern Territory capital city was "very lucky to have" unique biodiversity that does not exist elsewhere.

Shorebird expert and BirdLife Top End co-convenor Amanda Lilleyman said migratory birds relied on the harbour as a feeding and resting ground when winter iced over their northern hemisphere homes.

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