OzFish Unlimited has begun an ambitious new seagrass restoration project working with local partners Perfect Nature Cruises in Shark Bay, Western Australia.
Shark Bay is home to some of the largest and most diverse seagrass meadows on the planet and they have come under increasing threat from anthropogenic forces, particularly the changing climate.
A marine heatwave and extreme rainfall event in the summer of 2010-2011 caused significant stress resulting in a decrease in the resilience of the Amphibolis antarctica meadows which account for 85% of the seagrass cover in the region.
The ecosystem services provided by seagrass meadows are integral to the value of the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Seagrass meadows provide habitat and a food source for many marine creatures, particularly those with a high social and economic value. Namely, pink and grass snapper, blue-swimmer crabs, cephalopods, and dugongs.
By assisting in the rate of seedling settlement and subsequent survival to maturity, the project will help restore what has been lost and to improve the resilience of the ecosystem to future disruption. Amphibolis antarctica reproduces by releasing seedlings with a specialised barb (similar to a squid jig), these seedlings drift in currents and tides until they catch onto substrates, such as reef and existing seagrass, before establishing roots in sediment.
The project will seek to enhance the survival of A. antarctica seedlings by providing a biodegradable substrate upon which they can settle and grow. The stable substrate provided by hessian bags has been shown to increase seagrass density and growth rates in a multi-year study on the same species in South Australian waters (Tanner, 2015).
OzFish became involved in the project after being contacted the Ridgley family who operate Perfect Nature Cruises in Shark Bay. The long-time local family had seen firsthand the damage to seagrass meadows in Monkey Mia and how this was impacting the ecosystem.
“I was confident that Shark Bay’s seagrass required action, but we needed the right support to make it happen.” said Greg Ridgley. “We'd heard OzFish has a track record in similar projects, so together we’ve been able to turn our vision into reality and make a real difference.”
OzFish Program Manager for WA, Steve Pursell has been coordinating the efforts and believes the project is another great example of OzFish’s work with local fishers, partners and stakeholders.
“Shark Bay is almost as far west as you can reach on the Australian mainland- it’s a stunning and beautiful location but it is very isolated. This is why we are lucky to partner with passionate locals who know these waters so well and have networks in place to get the job done, they also have the perfect vessel for the work”.
Skipper Liam Ridgley has dedicated the past year to preparing the Norwest Lady, a 12m diesel jet boat with a shallow draught of 30cm, for seagrass restoration and scientific monitoring in Shark Bay. This meticulous outfitting ensures minimal impact on both new and established seagrass meadows.
In the initial trial phase of the project, the team is in the process of deploying 2,000 sandbags back into the Shark Bay Heritage Area, with early results already visible.
“It's exciting to see our sandbags already gathering seedlings and making progress in restoring the seagrass meadows,” said Liam Ridgley. “The enthusiasm from volunteers and project partners has been incredible. Their support is a testament to the community’s commitment to protecting Shark Bay’s unique ecosystem."
The trial will be used to evaluate different project variables and refine plans for a major expansion in 2025, where it’s planned for a further 10,000 bags to be deployed in the area. The restored area will provide a direct ecological benefit to the diverse and unique wildlife that rely on the seagrass meadows for survival, while bolstering the resilience of the ecosystem to stressors, including future marine heatwaves.
If you would like to know more about the project or get involved become a member of OzFish online at www.ozfish.org.au or contact 1800 431 308.
The project has been funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Australian Heritage Grants, with additional support from Perfect Nature Cruises, Brooks Hire, Komatsu, RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Jock Clough Marine Foundation, Shire of Shark Bay, Murdoch Gynaecology Clinic, Dongara Marine, Operational Geotechs, Blackwoods, Refuel Australia, Sun City Signs and BCF- Boating, Camping, Fishing.
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To arrange an interview with OzFish WA Program Manager Steve Pursell, email [email protected].
About OzFish
OzFish is a not-for-profit member organisation that partners with fishers and the broader community to invest time and money into the protection and restoration of waterways, counteracting decades of degradation with projects in habitat restoration, resnagging, riverbank planting, clean-ups, fishways, shellfish reefs and educational and community capacity building programs. www.ozfish.org.au. Learn more, or become a member.
Key Facts:
OzFish and partners are restoring seagrass in the Shark Bay World Heritage area after a marine heatwave and an extreme rainfall event in 2010-2011 affected populations.
About us:
About OzFish
OzFish Unlimited is a national environmental conservation charity established to improve the health of our rivers, lakes and estuaries. It is a member-based organisation dedicated to make our fishing grounds healthy, vibrant and more productive. Their active work includes; habitat restoration such as resnagging, riverbank planting, clean-ups, fishways, shellfish reefs and educational and community capacity building programs.
Contact details:
To arrange an interview with OzFish WA Program Manager Steve Pursell, email [email protected]
