Reason, C.L., Smith, T.M., and Rasheed, M.A. (2021) Seagrass habitat of Cairns Harbour and Trinity Inlet: Cairns Shipping Development Program and Annual Monitoring Report 2020. Report. TropWATER, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

In 2020 the large seagrass meadows of Cairns Harbour were in their best condition since declines associated with La Niña climate events between 2009 and 2011. All of the harbour monitoring meadows were rated as being in good or better condition for the first time since 2008. •The three smaller Trinity Inlet estuarine seagrass monitoring meadows were collectively in a poor condition due to reductions in area and a shift in species composition; These small meadows consist of highly ephemeral species and have been highly variable over time.

•Assessment of the larger port limits area in 2020 mapped 1,659 ha of seagrass, maintaining a relatively stable area since 2018.

•14 months after completion of the Cairns Shipping Development Project (CSDP) there were no signs of impacts on the intensive seagrass monitoring meadows adjacent to the harbour works.

•Area and biomass of the meadows closest to the dredging operation have continued to improve since the CSDP works and are in good and very good conditions.

•The continued improvement of Cairns Harbour seagrasses indicates they have re-established their natural resilience following the dramatic losses that occurred due to La Niña climate events between 2009 and 2011

Item ID:	79444
Item Type:	Report (Report)
Keywords:	Seagrass, Ports North, Annual monitoring, Surveys
Copyright Information:	© James Cook University, 2021
Funders:	Ports North (PN)
Date Deposited:	26 Jul 2023 02:19
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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