Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Seagrass and sediment in Nepean Bay
Seagrass meadows are home to an amazing array of marine species. But in Kangaroo Island's Nepean Bay, they were under threat from nutrient and sediment runoff from the Cygnet River catchment.
Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board therefore set out to assess and document the health of seagrass in Nepean Bay.
Funding
The Australian and State Governments have given $78,000 to the project. In kind support came from the State Government.
Activities
The project involved recording and categorising seagrass cover and condition, assessing the water quality of the Cygnet River and determining the origin of the nutrients and sediment washing into the river.
“Seagrass is an extremely important marine habitat which supports many animals, including a very diverse range of fish species, such as pipefish and sea horses,” Martine Kinloch, the Board's Coast and Marine program Manager said.
“It's a nursery area for commercial fish such as King George Whiting which spend the first two years of their lives in this protected environment. Seagrass is also extremely important in stabilising the sea floor and preventing erosion.”
The decline in seagrass health in Nepean Bay has been linked to runoff from the land travelling down the Cygnet River.
“We used aerial photography and an underwater video camera to record the seagrass, not just in Nepean Bay, but also in other sites not affected by runoff, to give us a control measurement,” Martine said.
Seagrass was classified in more than 250 sites in Nepean Bay, Emu Bay, Antechamber Bay and D'Estrees Bay.
With the help of the South Australian Environment Protection Authority and Department of Primary Industries and Resources, water and marine sediment quality were analysed. Land uses along the river were looked at, including the areas where most nutrients were entering the water.
Achievements
The results showed seagrass degradation in Nepean Bay was worse than first thought, but the project has provided the Board with a valuable starting point.
“The results will enable us to target specific problem areas,” Martine said.
“The extensive information we have gathered will also give us a benchmark of seagrass health for comparison in future surveys, and to find out whether our remedial action is making a difference.”
More information
- Martine Kinloch, Coast and Marine Project Manager, Kangaroo Island Natural Resource Management Board: (08) 8553 4980 or kinloch.martine@bigpond.com
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