Reason, Carissa, York, Paul, and Rasheed, Michael (2023) Seagrass Habitat of Mourilyan Harbour: Annual Monitoring Report 2022. Report. TropWATER, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

1. In 2022 the overall seagrass condition in Mourilyan Harbour remained very poor, although there was an increase in seagrass presence compared with 2021.

2. Seagrass was present in four of the five long term monitoring meadows, and condition within these meadows was classified as poor and very poor compared with the long term baseline.

3. Four meadows had an improvement in biomass and two meadows improved in area, however across all meadows either the biomass and extent were still well below the long-term average.

4. Biomass improved to a good condition grade in three of the monitoring meadows Channel (5), Seaforth Edge (4) and Bradshaw (5).

5. Restoration trials in Bradshaw (5) meadow over the past three years has seen a return of small patches of the foundation species Zostera muelleri and is a promising sign that restoration methods were successful and ready to be scaled up for a full restoration program for Mourilyan Harbour.

6. Conditions were reasonably favourable for seagrass growth in 2022 but high temperatures and above average river flow and solar radiation in the months leading up to the survey may have limited seagrass growth and recovery.

7. Current seagrass condition was unlikely to be related to port operations with the major losses and declines associated with previous La Niña climate events and more recent wet weather and river flows.

Item ID:	79430
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Keywords:	Seagrass, Mourilyan Harbour, Ports North, long-term monitoring.
Copyright Information:	© James Cook University, 2023.
Funders:	Ports North (PN)
Date Deposited:	25 Jul 2023 00:57
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring @ 100%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1802 Coastal and estuarine systems and management > 180201 Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems @ 100%
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