Seeds for Snapper
Seagrass Restoration 2018
Cockburn Sound WA
In a first for Australia, hundreds of West Australian recreational fishers took part in a massive effort to restore the lost seagrass meadows of Cockburn Sound in the Seeds for Snapper project.
Cockburn Sound has lost some 80% of its seagrass habitat since the 1960s, down from 4000ha originally to 900ha today.
About the Project
Andrew Matthews, Senior Program Manager with OzFish Unlimited lead the Seeds for Snapper project. He said, “fishers understand that seagrass meadows of Cockburn Sound are critical foraging and nursery grounds for Pink Snapper and plenty of other species and we have been looking for ways to help fix the problem”.
The solution has come in two parts “The first was the work by Marine Scientists from the University of Western Australia who have spent the last decade researching seagrass restoration and had recently developed a cost-effective method of direct seeding seagrass”, he said.
The second was the partnership recently formed between OzFish Unlimited and BCF, Australia’s largest outdoor retailer. “With their support and the support of their customers we have been able to fund habitat restoration projects across the country and this one in Cockburn Sound is going to be pretty special”.
The Process
Seagrass fruit upon collection
Seagrass Fruit ripening
Seeds ready to be replanted
The Seeds for Snapper project was made possible thanks to OzFish’s partnership with BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing and support from the University of Western Australia and Recfishwest.
