Rasheed, Michael, and McKenna, Skye (2005) Port of Karumba long term seagrass monitoring: progress report: October 2004. Report. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F), Cairns, QLD, Australia.

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

The October 2004 monitoring survey has seen seagrass area and density (biomass) recover from the record low levels that occurred in 2002. The beginnings of the recovery process first observed in 2003 had continued with biomass and area returning to levels that occurred prior to the 2002 decline. There was a corresponding reduction in colonising seagrass species and seeds stored in the sediment (seed bank), indicating that some of the recovery had occurred through germination of stored seeds.

Results of the seagrass monitoring program indicate that the Port of Karumba's marine environment appears relatively healthy. The most likely drivers of the observed seagrass loss and recovery in Karumba were related to regional climate rather than human activities or port related factors. The recovery of the seagrass meadows corresponded with a return of some climatic factors such as rainfall and cloud cover (solar irradiance) to more typical levels for the region than had occurred during 2002 and 2003.

Changes to the Karumba seagrass meadows may have implications for commercial and recreational fisheries in the region. Initial investigations show declining catches for many fisheries species occurred at the same time as the seagrass decline. While further work is required to better establish links, the recent recovery of the seagrass meadows may herald a return to increased catches.

Monitoring tools recently added to the program such as seed sampling, temperature and climate monitoring, and analysis of fisheries trends have increased our ability to interpret the causes of seagrass change, and enhanced our overall assessment of marine environment health for the survey region.

Item ID:	39856
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Keywords:	seagrass habitats, port management, recovery, resilience, dredging, marine monitoring, environmental monitoring
Funders:	Ports Corporation of Queensland (PCQ), Qld Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F), CRC Reef Research Centre
Projects and Grants:	DPI&F Marine Ecology Group (MEG)
Date Deposited:	25 Aug 2015 05:39
FoR Codes:	05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050205 Environmental Management @ 50% 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050206 Environmental Monitoring @ 50%
SEO Codes:	96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960503 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Coastal and Estuarine Environments @ 50% 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960507 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments @ 50%
Downloads:	Total: 1
	More Statistics