Manly (NSW) Seagrass beds under threat

Inhabitants of Manly seagrass beds

Passionate marine conservationist Deborah Dickson-Smith has posted this heartfelt plea to save the Manly seagrass beds on her Facebook page. I’m reposting it here as I believe that responsible boating is integral to enjoying the marine environment we as boaties enjoy on a daily basis.

Deborah says:
“I was wondering if you could help Eco Divers save the seagrass beds of Manly Cove by spreading the word to help our fight against the Boat Owners Association (or rather one very vocal person claiming to represent them). Please read the below notes from Pete and help if you can by attending the council meeting May 22 2012 or sending an online submission supporting our cause. I appreciate your help!

For years now we have been fighting for protection of the remaining seagrass beds in Manly Cove, Quarantine, Spring cove etc. When Posidonia Australis was declared in danger of extinction in Sydney Harbour, authorities thought [albiet slowly] that it was time to enact the legislation that has been sitting there un-enforced for decades.

Implementation of restrictions to anchoring was proposed and not as comprehensive as we had hoped but something none the less, a compromise.

The BOA [Boat Owners Association] or more correctly a person from the BOA not necessarily representing boat owners, has come back with a emotive and threatening rant against the “severe and unjustified restrictions.”

We have had dealings with them before in the CTBAR arena and like fishermen are grossly self righteous at the expense of anyone else  ..the community and especially the environment, will blame everybody but themselves and make out like they represent boat owners but as we have found out … they dont!

So to help balance the equation between the forces of goodness and evil you can help by attending council meeting on Tue 22 May at Manly where Posidonia Pete McGee will talk in favour of a motion for manly council to support  the proposed restrictions.

And you can also (or if you cant make the meeting) please take 5 minutes to send a short submission in favour of protecting the environment here:  www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/info/seagrass

Here is some information that may help you with your submission:

• seagrass is a critical habitat for a very large number of marine species .. seagrass = fish !
• seagrass that has taken decades to establish can be destroyed in minutes
• anchoring vessels further out also protects the l;arge number of passive users of these areas such as divers snorkelers swimmers paddlers etc…
• the pest species macro algae “caluerpa taxifolia” has been brought into and spread throughout manly cove and other north harbour bays by indiscriminate vessel anchoring
• seagrass reduces turbidity [water clarity and quality]
• seagrass absorbs carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen
• seagrass stabilises the seafloor and absorbs nutrients
• protected animals in the manly / north harbour area  – sea horses / penguins / turtles / all sea birds / seals
• councils and other authorities are all obliged to protect biodiversity and increase critical habitat

...And here’s a little video that explains how seagrass friendly moorings work and how seagrass plays such an important role in our marine environment. http://youtu.be/VcjwvHxWHaA”

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Posted by Fiona Harper on May 22 2012. Filed under Australia, Boating, Recommended. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry