The discovery of seed banks off Gladstone is good news for the recovery of seagrass meadows in Port Curtis.
(Media-Newswire.com) - The discovery of seed banks off Gladstone is good news for the recovery of seagrass meadows in Port Curtis.
Fisheries Minister Craig Wallace said Fisheries Queensland scientists had discovered seed banks at many sites visited locally as part of their investigation into the resilience of Gladstone’s seagrass meadows.
“This discovery shows seagrasses in the area have the capacity to recover following flooding in the past year,” Mr Wallace said.
“Any seagrass recovery will be good news for fish species that depend on these habitats.
“If climate conditions in the second half of this year continue to be favourable for seagrass growth, we can expect to see some recovery of these meadows.”
Gladstone Ports Corporation ( GPC ) who commissioned the study said the program formed part of a wider research and monitoring project.
GPC CEO Leo Zussino said the project was about monitoring and understanding Gladstone’s seagrasses.
“We are undertaking one of Australia’s most detailed seagrass research and monitoring programs in a port to ensure the future of these critical fisheries and dugong and turtle habitats,” Mr Zussino said.
“The program is using world leading science to understand the natural cycles of seagrass change and develop guidelines and thresholds to protect seagrass during future developments.”
Fisheries Queensland Principal Scientist Michael Rasheed said the project was ongoing and would continue to monitor for signs of recovery.
“We have found seeds in places where the majority of the above-ground seagrass had been lost,” Dr Rasheed said.
“The presence of seagrass seeds in the sediments provides a potential source of recovery for seagrass meadows that have declined following recent weather events.”
Seagrass is being monitored at seven locations within the Gladstone harbour area including Pelican Banks North, Pelican Banks South, Facing Island, Fisherman’s Landing, Wiggins Island ( West ), Rodds Bay and Redcliffe.
The program includes the monitoring of intertidal seagrass, biomass interpretation, temperature loggers and light loggers, seagrass tissue nutrients and statistical analysis, as well as regular remapping of seagrass distribution.
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