Water Research Lab, UNSW advice for Snowden’s trial
October 13, 2018
Radio Adelaide interview
November 4, 2018
Twenty one cores of seagrass (Zostera) were today translocated, about 2 kms south of their host site, to just north of Snowden’s boat ramp. They were planted behind 3 sets of bags of clean recycled shell.
The ‘cores’ were removed in PVC pipe that was 100mm diameter and 400mm long, with the length of the ‘core’ approx. 150mm – 200mm. The pipe was capped, below the seagrass, for the return boat trip to Snowden’s.
Eleven bags of shell (Pacific oyster shell from SA growers) were previously deployed and today an additional five were set out. The aim is for the bagged shell to encourage shellfish restoration that will protect the seagrass from boat wash.
The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) provided a Permit under the Native Vegetation legislation for transfer of the Zostera for ‘ecological enhancement’. The Zostera came from an existing area of healthy seagrass and the Foundation will monitor both the host and the receiving site for impact of the translocation.
The initial monitoring will focus on whether the 21 cores survive, if the survival rates behind the 3 sets of bags vary and how the seagrass fares in summer.
Assoc Professor Jason Tanner has advised and supported the Foundation and our volunteers to implement this seagrass restoration trial. The trial is made possible by a Community NRM grant and a Coastal Participation grant.
Seagrass ‘core’ in PVC pipe ready for transfer
