Join Us for Fish Talks: Seagrass in the Manning Estuary
On 16 October 2024, OzFish Unlimited is teaming up with Mid Coast Council to co-host the latest Fish Talks event at Taree University Campus, focused on the vital role of seagrass in the Manning Estuary.
Supported by the NSW Government’s Coastal Management Program, this event will dive into the seagrass loss that has concerned local fishos and the community for years.
Seagrass has been disappearing in the mid-to-lower regions of the estuary, leaving fishers noticing fewer fish in areas where seagrass once thrived. Their observations have been backed up by historical data from the NSW DPIRD Estuarine Mapping portal, confirming the decline.
Seagrass beds are essential for estuarine biodiversity, providing breeding grounds, shelter, and food for fish, prawns, and other aquatic life. They also play a crucial role in stabilising estuary floors and filtering nutrients.
OzFish’s Senior Project Officer, Taylah Kirk, is eager to explore the idea of a long-term seagrass restoration project with the help of local stakeholders.
She’s keen to gather insights from anglers who have firsthand knowledge of changes in the estuary, saying, “We want to identify the causes of seagrass loss and work on solutions for restoration with our Manning Chapter members.”
We invite you to join us at Taree University Campus on 16 October at 5:45 pm to hear from seagrass expert Tim Glasby, who will share his experience researching and monitoring local estuarine seagrass.
This event is a great opportunity for the community to come together, learn, and discuss potential restoration actions to safeguard the future of our estuaries.
