Water quality in the Port River and Barker Inlet has improved in recent years and recent qualitative observations by Dr Jason Tanner, SARDI indicate that the seagrass Zostera is returning to some areas along the southern shore of Torrens Island.
Intertidal and subtidal Zostera beds would have previously occurred throughout the Port River and Barker Inlet, but that was followed by extensive loss of seagrasses linked to increased industrial and storm water discharges.
Several years ago Zostera wasn’t found south of the Quarantine Station and can now be seen along the banks of Torrens Island to the Submarine Corporation.