Port of Abbot Point proposed dredge footprint: seagrass survey: December 2014

McKenna, S.A.;Rasheed, M.A.

Abstract

Key Findings: 1. Three species of seagrass were found within and surrounding the proposed Abbot Point dredge footprint area. 2. Seagrass biomass in the survey area was classified as light. The percent cover of seagrass was also low and ranged between <1% and 3% cover. 3. Seagrass has previously been found covering a larger extent in the proposed dredge footprint area, including in a 2013 survey. 4. Seagrasses in the greater port limits area had been recovering following flood and cyclone impacts up until 2013. However from 2013 to 2014 seagrasses underwent further declines following Tropical Cyclones Oswald, Dylan and Ita, and associated rainfall, high winds and flooding. 5. The declines in Abbot Point seagrasses over recent years mean that they likely have a reduced resilience to further impacts and stressors and the overall distribution of seagrasses was reduced from likely maximum extent. The cumulative impacts of natural stressors should be considered in conjunction with future developments associated with port expansions in formulating management strategies to protect seagrasses.

Journal

N/A

Publication Name

N/A

Volume

15/08

ISBN/ISSN

N/A

Edition

N/A

Issue

N/A

Pages Count

Location

N/A

Publisher

TropWATER, James Cook University

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

Cairns, QLD, Australia

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

N/A