Gulf Coast Assessment
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Prepared by: NRM Planning @ Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd Lead author: Jim Tait, Econcern Consulting Contributors: Sarah Rizvi, Prof Alan Dale, Riki Gunn & Sarah Connor Reviewers & advisors: Riki Gunn, Natalie Waller and Anissa Lawrence Design work: Clare Powell & Federico Vanni Editing: Nina Bailey Photography: Federico Vanni This project is supported by the Northern Gulf Resource Management Group Ltd through funding from the Australian Government TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.1 Income .................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 3.2 Employment ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 Health .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 8.1 3.4 Education .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 8.2 3.5 Housing ................................................................................................................................................................. 9 8.3 3.6 Social Services ................................................................................................................................................. 10 4. INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 8.4 4.1 Gkuuthaarn/ Kukatj & Kurtijar ..................................................................................................................... 11 4.2 Kowanyama .................................................................................................................................................................... 12 5. REGIONAL DRIVERS ............................................................................................................................ 14 5.1 The Port of Karumba ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 8.5 5.2 Commercial Fisheries ....................................................................................................................................... 14 8.6 5.3 Tourism ............................................................................................................................................................... 15 8.7 5.4 Energy ................................................................................................................................................................ 15 8.8 5.5 Mining ................................................................................................................................................................ 15 6. ENGAGEMENT OUTCOMES .............................................................................................................. 16 6.1 Kowanyama Visit ............................................................................................................................................................ 16 6.2 Karumba visit ................................................................................................................................................................... 16 6.2.1 Gulf Coast’s NRM Dilemmas Workshop, 9 June 2015, Karumba ................................................................ 19 .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 20 6.2.2 Community Survey, Gulf Coast ............................................................................................................................ 21 8. NATURAL ASSETS AND STATUS: COASTAL AND MARINE .......................................................... 24 4.1 8.1 ASSETS AND STATUS ..................................................................................................................................... 24 8.8.1 8.1.1 Coastal Lands ..................................................................................................................................... 24 8.1.2 Aquatic Ecosystems ................................................................................................................................................ 27 8.1.3 Fisheries .................................................................................................................................................................... 33 8.1.4 Coastal and Marine Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................ 38 8.2 SUMMARY OF THREATS TO COASTAL AND MARINE ZONE ASSETS ................................................................. 53 8.2.1 River Basin Management ...................................................................................................................................... 53 8.2.2 Coastal Land Use and Management ........................................................................................................ 57 8.2.3 Fishery and Traditional Hunting Sustainability ........................................................................................ 62 8.2.4 Marine Debris ................................................................................................................................................ 65 8.2.5 Climate Change ............................................................................................................................................ 66 8.3 Climate Change Risk Assessment for Coastal and Marine Assets ......................................................................... 72 9. References ............................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Appendix 1: Summary of Findings from Stakeholder Consultations ............................................... 78 8.9 Traditional Owner Groups .................................................................................................................................... 78 8.10 Coastal Pastoralists ................................................................................................................................................ 78 8.11 Recreational Fishers ................................................................................................................................................ 79 8.12 Commercial Fishers ................................................................................................................................................. 80 8.13 Tourism Industry ....................................................................................................................................................... 81 8.14 Local Government ................................................................................................................................................... 82 8.15 Conservation Interests ............................................................................................................................................ 82 8.16 Port Operations ...................................................................................................................................................... 83 INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION The South East Gulf of Carpentaria’s coastal and marine zone is not widely recognized for its outstanding biodiversity; however it contains unique ecosystems of global significance. Among such assets one can find breeding marine turtle populations, submerged patch reefs and extensive sea grass beds. The ecosystem also includes a significant proportion of the world’s dugong population, endangered sawfish, river sharks and three species of rare inshore dolphin. The coast comprises nationally important coastal wetlands, and is host for internationally recognised migrating shore birds and nationally significant breeding populations of water birds. The health and productivity of the coastal and marine zone is also reflected in traditional, recreational and commercial fisheries that produce over $50m of crab, prawn and finfish product whilst supporting a growing tourist industry and providing material and cultural sustenance for Indigenous people. Given a small population and limited intensive land use or industrial development, the status of most natural assets within the South East Gulf’s coastal and marine zones are relatively well preserved. In fact, many such ecosystems are considered to be ‘near pristine’ when compared to more developed regions of Australia. However, what we know is far outweighed by what we don’t know about the Gulf’s coastal and marine zone due to limited scientific investigations and data collected in the region. The condition of these valuable ecosystems is being negatively affected by grazing along the coastal zone, pests, weeds and an unmanaged fire regime. For marine areas, the most significant impacts are associated with commercial fishery catch including non-target bycatch species, disturbance of the environment via trawling and marine debris from Asia. Locally, port operations and recreational fishing tourism