Restoration project building habitat for Pink Snapper in WA

Western Australia’s second-largest Pink Snapper spawning ground is slowly getting restored with the help of an innovative habitat restoration project, Seeds for Snapper.

Behind the project is OzFish, Australia’s only first fish conservation group, who developed a trial last year to see if the community can support seagrass habitat restoration by collecting floating seagrass fruit for processing on-shore. This saw 200,000 Posidonia australis seeds processed and re-established in Cockburn Sound.

The trial demonstrated impressive results to re-seeding seagrass beds and OzFish Senior Project Manager Andrew Matthews, said he was excited that the pilot has been so successful.

“We have seen up to a 100-fold increase in seedling emergence compared to natural establishment, which means we can be really confident that this method works and that the communities help can make a difference to our marine environment,” he said

This year, OzFish hopes to make it much bigger by recruiting more volunteer fishers and divers for fruit collection, aiming to have one million seeds processed this November, potentially restoring 10,000 m2 (1 Ha) of lost seagrass habitat in Cockburn Sound.

Historically, 80 per cent of seagrass has been lost in WA due to greater fishing pressure, environmental change and habitat degradation and this has put this important area at risk. The seagrass meadows of Cockburn Sound are well recognised as critical foraging and nursery grounds for Pink Snapper, Calamari, Whiting and Blue Swimmer Crabs.

“The project is a collaborative effort, without the help of the community, including boating, fishing and diving volunteering time and resources, it simply would not get it off the ground,” said Mr Matthews.

The Cockburn Power Boat Club are an important partner in facilitating the Seeds for Snapper restoration work providing a location for tanks, site security, power and access to sea water within the club marina.

General Manager John Tissott said, “Our members recognise the importance of healthy plentiful oceans, so this project has given them an opportunity to give back to habitat and ensure the sustainability of the marine environment we enjoy.”

Researchers, with the help of fishers, will continue to monitor the reseeded meadows and measure their growth. Marine Restoration Ecologist Dr John Statton from UWA has been working on seagrass restoration for several years and said, “By using community members to scale up seagrass restoration, we will not only see a return of ecological services in large numbers but also economic and social benefits from the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of our ocean ecosystem.”

The community are encouraged to join OzFish and Cockburn Power Boat Association members at Woodman Point this weekend to help spread the seagrass seed recently collected and processed by volunteers

The ‘Seeds for Snapper’ would not be possible without the support of major partners BCF – Boating Camping Fishing, the University of Western Australia, Recfishwest, Cockburn Power Boat Association and City of Cockburn.


More information on Seeds For Snapper can be found here:

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