Anderson Inlet Fish Habitats 2010
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Anderson Inlet Fish Habitats 2010 Julia Kent and Patrick Coutin (Editors) July 2011 Fisheries Victoria Assessment Report Series No 63 Anderson Inlet Fish Habitats 2010 If you would like to receive this Editor Contact Details: Julia Kent, Fisheries Victoria information/publication in an PO Box 114, Queenscliff Vic 3223 accessible format (such as large Authorised by the Victorian Government, print or audio) please call the 1 Spring Street, Melbourne Customer Service Centre on: Printed by Fisheries Victoria, Victoria 136 186, TTY: 1800 122 969, Published by the Department of Primary or email Industries. [email protected] Copies are available from the website: © The State of Victoria, Department of Primary www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing Industries, 2011. General disclaimer This publication is copyright. No part may be This publication may be of assistance to you but reproduced by any process except in accordance the State of Victoria and its employees do not with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your Preferred way to cite this publication: particular purposes and therefore disclaims all Kent, J. and Coutin, P.C. (Eds.) (2011) Anderson liability for any error, loss or other consequence Inlet Fish Habitats 2010. Compiled by the Fish which may arise from you relying on any Habitat Assessment Group. Fisheries Victoria information in this publication. Assessment Report Series. Report No. 63, 19 pp. (Primary Industries Research Victoria, Queenscliff). ISSN 1329‐7287 ISBN 978‐1‐74264‐863‐7 (print) Anderson Inlet Fish Habitats 2010 ii Table of Contents Executive Summary............................................................................................... 1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 2 Goals, Objectives and Strategies for Maintenance of Fish Habitats .......... 3 Strategic Directions ...................................................................................................................................................3 Strategic goal ...........................................................................................................................................................3 Strategic objectives..................................................................................................................................................3 Strategic activities ...................................................................................................................................................3 Policy and Legislative Context ................................................................................................................................3 2001 Assessment .................................................................................................... 4 2004 Assessment .................................................................................................... 5 The 2010 Assessment ............................................................................................ 6 Aims and Methods ....................................................................................................................................................6 Aim, Objectives and Strategies of the Assessment.............................................................................................6 Boundaries of Anderson Inlet ...............................................................................................................................6 Definition of a Fish Habitat ...................................................................................................................................6 Methods....................................................................................................................................................................6 Research Outcomes ............................................................................................... 7 Key Fish Species and Their Habitat Requirements ....................................... 8 Fish Species in Anderson Inlet ...............................................................................................................................8 Key Fishery Species and Habitat Links.................................................................................................................8 King George whiting..............................................................................................................................................8 Sand flathead...........................................................................................................................................................8 Estuary perch...........................................................................................................................................................9 Sand worms .............................................................................................................................................................9 Bass yabbies.............................................................................................................................................................9 Important Fisheries Habitat.....................................................................................................................................9 Status of Important Fish Habitats.................................................................... 11 Pelagic habitat .......................................................................................................................................................11 Anderson Inlet Fish Habitats 2010 iii Seagrass ................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Rocky habitats....................................................................................................................................................... 11 Large woody debris ............................................................................................................................................. 11 Threats....................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Spartina................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Climate change ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Management Implications..................................................................................................................................... 12 Spartina................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Climate change ..................................................................................................................................................... 13 Research Priorities .................................................................................................................................................. 13 2010 Assessment – Summary ............................................................................ 14 Status ......................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Research Priorities .................................................................................................................................................. 14 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ 15 References ............................................................................................................. 16 Glossary................................................................................................................. 18 List of Tables Table 1. Recreational fish species listed in Anderson Inlet ranked by angler catches..................................... 8 Table 2. ‘Icon’ species for Anderson Inlet. .............................................................................................................. 8 Table 3. Habitat requirements for each life stage of key targeted fish species in Anderson Inlet. .............. 10 Anderson Inlet Fish Habitats 2010 iv Executive Summary The sustainable harvest of fishery resources is Most of the threats listed in the previous dependent on maintaining the integrity of the assessment (e.g. increased sediment and nutrient habitats, environmental conditions and loads) were no longer evident in Anderson Inlet ecological processes that support production of as a result of drought conditions in Victoria target fish populations. Fisheries Victoria has during the past 13 years. The most serious established a formal Fish Habitat Assessment ecological threats to fish habitat in Anderson process to provide scientific information on the Inlet were considered to be the presence and identity and status of marine fish habitats. This spread of Spartina, and the risks associated with information is essential for facilitating protection