A Synopsis to Underpin the Repair and Conservation of Australia’S Environmentally, Socially and Economically Important Bays and Estuaries
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Shellfish Reef Habitats A synopsis to underpin the repair and conservation of Australia’s environmentally, socially and economically important bays and estuaries Australia EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report should be cited as: Gillies CL, Creighton C and McLeod IM (eds) (2015) Shellfish reef habitats: a synopsis to underpin the repair and conservation of Australia’s environmentally, socially and economically important bays and estuaries. Report to the National Environmental Science Programme, Marine Biodiversity Hub. Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) Publication, James Cook University, Townsville, 68 pp. For further information, contact: IAN MCLEOD Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER) James Cook University [email protected] TROPWATER ATSIP Building 145 James Cook University Townsville, QLD 4811 This publication has been compiled by the Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWATER), James Cook University. Copyright This report is licensed by the University of Tasmania for use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Australia Licence. For licence conditions, see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Enquiries about reproduction, including downloading or printing the web version, should be directed to [email protected]. Acknowledgments This work was undertaken for the Marine Biodiversity Hub, a collaborative partnership supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme (NESP). NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub partners include the University of Tasmania, CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Museum Victoria, Charles Darwin University, the University of Western Australia, Integrated Marine Observing System, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Primary Industries. The Authors would like to thank the Marine Biodiversity Hub Directors: Nic Bax and Paul Hedge for providing valuable project support and for facilitating this project. Simon Branigan, James Fitzsimons and Boze Hancock from The Nature Conservancy provided valuable contributions and expert input into earlier drafts of this report. We thank members of the Australian Shellfish Reef Restoration Network for contributing to early discussions and providing the initial impetus for this work. Important Disclaimer The NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub advises that the information contained in this publication comprises general statements based on scientific research. The reader is advised and needs to be aware that such information may be incomplete or unable to be used in any specific situation. No reliance or actions must therefore be made on that information without seeking prior expert professional, scientific and technical advice. To the extent permitted by law, the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub (including its host organisation, employees, partners and consultants) excludes all liability to any person for any consequences, including but not limited to all losses, damages, costs, expenses and any other compensation, arising directly or indirectly from using this publication (in part or in whole) and any information or material contained in it. Front cover: (Plate 1) Mixed flat oyster and mussel reef, George’s Bay Tasmania. C Gillies 2 Shellfish Reef Habitats – TropWATER Report No 15/60 2015 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Shellfish reef habitats: a synopsis to underpin the repair and conservation of Australia’s environmentally, socially and economically important bays and estuaries A Report for the National Environmental Science Programme: Marine Biodiversity Hub TropWATER Report No. 15/60 30th of October 2015 Editors: CHRIS GILLIES IAN MCLEOD The Nature Conservancy, Carlton, Victoria Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland COLIN CREIGHTON Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland Contributing authors: HEIDI ALLEWAY EMMA LEBRAULT Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, Adelaide, Fisheries NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries, South Australia Port Stephens, Australia PETER COOK AGNÈS LE PORT Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, University of Western Australia, Albany, Australia James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland CHRISTINE CRAWFORD IAN MCLEOD Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland COLIN CREIGHTON KYLIE RUSSELL Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Fisheries NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland Port Stephens, NSW BEN DIGGLES MARCUS SHEAVES Digsfish Services, Banksia Beach, Queensland Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland JOHN FORD Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, BRYN WARNOCK Victoria Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, University of Western Australia, Albany, Western Australia CHRIS GILLIES The Nature Conservancy, Carlton, Victoria PAUL HAMER Fisheries Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Queenscliff, Victoria 2 Shellfish Reef Habitats – TropWATER Report No 15/60 2015 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Plate 2. Mixed flat oyster and mussel reef. George’s Bay, Tasmania. C. Gillies 4 Shellfish Reef Habitats – TropWATER Report No 15/60 2015 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Table of contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................................6 TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF HISTORIC SHELLFISH REEF FISHERIES AND CAUSES OF DECLINE .............................................8 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................................10 2 SHELLFISH REEFS: THEIR ROLE IN ENSURING A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE COASTAL AUSTRALIA ............12 2.1 TYPES OF SHELLFISH REEFS ......................................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 SHELLFISH REEF DEFINITION ....................................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 AUSTRALIAN SHELLFISH REEF-FORMING SPECIES ............................................................................................... 12 2.4 THE ECOLOGICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC VALUE OF SHELLFISH REEFS ................................................... 18 3 SHELLFISH REEFS OF THE GREAT BARRIER REEF REGION ..........................................................................................22 4 SHELLFISH REEFS OF SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND .....................................................................................................28 5 SHELLFISH REEFS OF NEW SOUTH WALES ...................................................................................................................32 6 SHELLFISH REEFS OF VICTORIA ......................................................................................................................................38 7 SHELLFISH REEFS OF TASMANIA ...................................................................................................................................42 8 SHELLFISH REEFS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA ....................................................................................................................46 9 SHELLFISH REEFS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA ...............................................................................................................50 10 REPAIRING AUSTRALIA’S SHELLFISH REEFS .................................................................................................................54 10.1 OBJECTIVES OF SHELLFISH REEF RESTORATION ................................................................................................... 54 10.2 LIKELIHOOD OF RECOVERY AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RESTORATION ............................................... 54 10.3 BENEFICIARIES OF SHELLFISH REEF RESTORATION .............................................................................................. 55 10.4 AUSTRALIAN REEF RESTORATION EFFORTS........................................................................................................... 57 10.5 BUILDING ON INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE ........................................................................................................ 58 10.6 RESTORATION METHODS ............................................................................................................................................ 58 10.7 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ..................................................................................................................................... 58 11 RECOMMENDED KEY ACTIONS TO SUPPORT SHELLFISH REEF RESTORATION ...................................................60 11.1 PRIORITY AREAS FOR INVESTMENT ......................................................................................................................... 60 11.2 VALUE OF PARTNERSHIPS - INDUSTRY, COMMUNITY AND INDIGENOUS ................................................... 60 11.3 OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNOVATION AND INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL