News Release - Managing mangroves

[QLD_Fisheries]

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/news/NewsReleases/14140.html

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[Lucky_Phill]

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15 December, 2003

Managing mangroves
The Department of Primary Industries and Brisbane City Council (BCC) are working together to ensure the Brisbane River’s mangrove fish habitats remain a key feature of Australia’s most liveable city.

The draft BCC Brisbane River Mangrove Management Strategy is looking at how to maintain and enhance the river’s community amenity value while keeping the habitats healthy and part of the green foreshore landscape.

Queensland Fisheries Service (QFS) principal scientist Dr John Beumer said mangroves were a valuable and critical link in the ecological chain, providing shelter, food and nurseries for marine life and the start of the food chain for recreational, indigenous and commercial fisheries.

Dr Beumer said mangroves played an important role in stabilising foreshores and were able to absorb contaminants, removing them from aquatic environments.

“If these key fish habitats are destroyed, it leads to the loss of aquatic life which in the long term will prove very damaging to fish and other marine communities,” he said.

Dr Beumer said the Brisbane River had undergone many changes and much modification over the years with dredging, the removal of sand and rock bars and major floods changing its character.

Many of the mangrove islands at the mouth of the River had been removed to allow vessels into the river’s lower estuary.

Dr Beumer said these activities had affected the river’s habitats and there were now relatively few healthy mangroves stands remaining.

“One of the most important remaining stands is near the City upstream from the Story Bridge at Kangaroo Point,” he said.

“Mangroves are valuable community assets and form a key component of the State’s natural capital.

“Therefore, we need to ensure these habitats are protected for the future of fisheries resources as well as the community’s benefit.”

However, Dr Beumer said it was important to ensure the public still had access to riverside restaurants walkways, parks and river transport and there needed to be a balance between developmental needs with those of the environment.

“For example, mangroves may need to be trimmed to allow for safety for ferry access, boardwalks, pontoons and other public infrastructure projects,” he said.

“Together with BCC we are investigating how these activities affect the river’s mangroves and other fisheries resources and how to minimise these effects while still retaining public access.”


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Further information: John Beumer (07) 3224 2238
Media Officer: Liz Smith Ph: +61 7 3224 7757
Department of Primary Industries Media Unit
GPO Box 46 Brisbane Qld 4001. Fax +61 7 3239 0860
DPI Call Centre 8am-6pm weekdays on local call 13 25 23

[CHRIS_aka_GWH]

mmmm, a fortnight back Jim Soorley was making noises about the same but in a much more antagonising way.

Politics at its finest. Have a person committed to the cause but removed from the process, make an extremely public, outlandish comment so when the council develops a more conservative, realistic plan it meets less opposition. mmmmmmmm

Trimming & shaping I probably don't have to much problem with kepping in mind the footprint of their shadow defines the nursery habitat of each plant. Stopping the trees claiming back the riverfront either by removing new trees, stopping the the floating seeds finding landfall, or restricting & trimming the root system - that a bit different.

What are your thoughts?

chris