Coastal Wetlands Resources Investigation of the Burdekin Delta for declaration as fisheries reserves. Report to Ocean Rescue 2000

Abstract

A project to investigate the coastal wetland resources of the Burdekin Delta, north Queensland, was undertaken as part of the long-term assessment of the coastal fisheries resources of Queensland. Extending from November 1993 to May 1995, fieldwork was undertaken in November 1993 and August 1994.

The scope of the coastal wetlands resources investigation of the Burdekin Delta for declaration as a Fish Habitat Area was:

1. To document and map the marine wetland vegetation communities in the Burdekin River delta.
2. To document levels of existing disturbance to wetlands, existing recreational and commercial fisheries resources, and existing fishing activities.
3. To evaluate the conservation values of the areas investigated from the viewpoint of fisheries productivity and as habitat for important/threatened species.
4. To initiate Fish Habitat Area declaration under Section 120 of the Queensland Fisheries Act 1994 with formal consultation to all stakeholders.

This report concentrates on Points 1 and 3, the documentation of the marine wetland vegetation communities and the evaluation of conservation values from a fisheries viewpoint.

Dataset URL Link: Queensland Coastal Wetlands Resources Mapping data. [Dataset]