Help your river – saltmarsh and mangrove restoration for a healthy Clarence

Saltmarshes and mangroves are often misunderstood as boggy, smelly swamps, but they’re essential for a healthy river ecosystem. OzFish Unlimited is leading a hands-on effort to restore four saltmarsh and mangrove sites around Yamba, to help breathe new life into the mighty Clarence River.

The project focuses on cleaning up, regenerating, and protecting these vital habitats. Over the four-year term, the team will work on removing invasive weeds, native seed dispersal, addressing waste dumping, and community education to regenerate the 141 ha area.

Zoe White, OzFish Unlimited Senior Project Officer for the NSW North Coast, aims to help people understand how these habitats provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for numerous species, especially fish, prawns, and mud crabs.

“If you want a healthy Clarence River, you need healthy saltmarsh and mangroves,” says White.

Why these habitats matter

Saltmarshes and mangroves act as buffers between land and water, helping to filter out pollutants, reduce flooding, slow water runoff, and improve water quality. Additionally, over 70% of all recreationally targeted saltwater fish species depend on these habitats at some point in their life cycle.

In the Clarence River, saltmarshes are not only vital for local wildlife but also hold significant economic value, with an estimated worth of $25,741 per hectare each year to the local commercial fisheries.

When these habitats are damaged, the effects ripple through the river’s ecosystem and the community. When restored, these habitats provide long-lasting benefits to fish populations and the local fishing industry.

The restoration process

OzFish has been surveying the four key saltmarsh sites around Yamba, identifying areas affected by off-road vehicle damage, nutrient runoff, invasive species, and waste dumping.

Over the last year, the team has begun the cleanup process, in partnership with the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation. Through community working bees, OzFish volunteers and Yaegl contractors have already removed over 3 tonnes of rubbish from the sites.

Yaegl contractors have also been regenerating these habitats through weed removal and native seed dispersal to restore the area’s ecological balance. They have already undertaken 500 hours of hard work on the site, making significant improvements to the habitat.

Grant Brown, from the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, emphasises that projects like this have deep cultural significance to everyone.

“We want to protect these places for our river, for our wildlife, and for our community,” says Brown. “We have direct and historical experience with these habitats and feel empowered to act and restore these sites, which also hold significant cultural significance for Yaegl people.

“When we are able to work on Country to utilise our skills in projects like this, it makes a difference for everyone — not just Aboriginal people — and has a lasting impact on the health of our beautiful river.”

The bigger picture

Saltmarshes and mangroves support a wide variety of native plants and animals, providing critical habitats for fish, birds, invertebrates, and crustaceans. By restoring these habitats, OzFish is ensuring the continued health of the river and its surrounding ecosystems. Without these vital areas, the impacts on local wildlife, the fishing industry, and even the culture of the local community would be devastating.

“Everything is connected here,” explains Grant. “Everything in our river is born here, or feeds here, or breeds here. When these habitats are lost or damaged, the impacts on our river ecosystem, fishing industry and importantly, our culture, is significant.”

How can you help

Want to help protect and restore the health of the Clarence River? You can get involved by joining upcoming working bees and events. For more details, visit the OzFish Clarence Facebook page or website.

The project is part of the Driving Fish Habitat Action partnership between OzFish and Landcare NSW. Funding for this project was provided with grants from the Recreational Fishing Trust and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Developments’ Recreational Fishing Trust’s Habitat Action Grant Program. These grant programs are financed from funds generated through the sale of the recreational fishing licence fee in NSW and managed by NSW DPIRD Fisheries on behalf of the Recreational Fishing Trust. It’s also in collaboration with the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Clarence Valley Council, Clarence Landcare, and National Parks Wildlife Services.