Seagrass friendly moorings trialled in Queensland

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
11/02/2010
Seagrass friendly moorings trialled in Queensland.

New boat moorings which do not damage seagrass are being trialled in Queensland.

Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin said the new moorings are being installed in several locations in Moreton Bay.

"Traditional 'block and tackle' mooring designs drag on the sea floor killing seagrass, algae and other marine plants," Mr Mulherin said.

"The heavy mooring chains can scour a 'halo' or circle where no marine plants grow.

"These halos can be up to 1000m2 per vessel in size and in some cases are clearly visible from the air.

"Destroying sections of seagrass in this way can harm fish, prawn, turtles and dugong populations."

Mr Mulherin said there were three types of environmentally-friendly moorings being trialed.

"These moorings minimise the area of disturbance of the mooring anchor system, and keep the vessel and mooring chain off the seabed at all st ages of the tide.

"For example, the Seagrass Friendly Mooring System uses a moveable arm raised off the seafloor which is attached to a fixed anchor.

"After a small amount of disturbance during installation, these moorings allow seagrasses and other marine plants, and soft-sediment animals to remain, live and grow uninhibited.

Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said this project recognised the high ecological and economical importance of Moreton Bay.

"It is estimated that Moreton Bay's commercial fisheries alone generate $33 million gross value of production.

"The bay is one of the State's most popular recreational fishing areas."

"In addition to the commercial value, the bay also supports a healthy population of turtles, dugongs and wader birds of national and international conservation significance.

"These values are protected by the Moreton Bay Marine Park, a haven for wildlife and people on Brisbane's doors tep," Lillian said.

The trial will be conducted for two years in sensitive seagrass areas at:
* Tangalooma Island Resort - Moreton Island,
* One Mile - North Stradbroke Island,
* Point Halloran near Victoria Point, and
* Dalpura Bay - Macleay Island.

If the trial is successful it may be expanded to other parts of Queensland's coast.

The environmentally-friendly moorings are being trialed through a partnership between SEQ Catchments, the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, Tangalooma Island Resort, the Department of Environment and Resource Management, Maritime Safety Queensland, University of Queensland and Seagrass Watch.

Moreton Bay Seafood Industry Association and Moreton Bay Access Alliance are also supporting the project.

Permanent Link: Seagrass friendly moorings trialled in Queensland
Publish Date: 12 Feb 10