Project maps threatened marine species

Threatened and protected marine species between Tweed Heads and Port Macquarie, including the Eastern blue devil fish, are being mapped for the first time in a Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) project delivered by Southern Cross University researchers.

This important marine research project will fill one of the high priority gaps in marine knowledge for the Northern Rivers region identified in a recent NRCMA-funded marine research report.

The Southern Cross University project team includes Dr Steven Purcell, Associate Professor Stephen Smith, and Steve Dalton, from the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour, who are undertaking the project with NRCMA funding.

Associate Professor Smith said there was little specific information on threatened and protected species within this region.

“We are going to map where these species are found throughout the marine habitats of the North Coast,” Professor Smith said. “We also want to determine which habitats are critical for different species. This is vital information for the ongoing management and protection of these rare species.”

As part of the project, the researchers are calling on recreational and commercial divers along the coast to contribute details of sightings of threatened and protected marine species. This information will then by compiled and verified by the research team.

“There are many people involved in diving and recreation who collectively spend a lot of time in the water. This potentially provides a great source of information on the distribution of species that we can collate and check,” he said.

“We know that records for this area are inadequate. This community-based approach is the first important step in building up our knowledge of threatened species in the Northern Rivers region.”

Dr Purcell said there were a number of reasons why marine species were listed as threatened or protected including over fishing, illegal collection for the aquarium trade and human-induced changes to habitats.

“There are about 20 threatened and protected marine species in the waters between Tweed Heads and Port Macquarie including the Queensland groper, Ballina angel fish and the Eastern blue devil fish,” Dr Purcell said.

“The information we collect in this study will be useful for setting a baseline against which we can assess future changes to the populations of these species. It will also provide vital information about their critical habitats.”

Divers and spear fishers can contribute to the survey by contacting Steve Dalton at the National Marine Science Centre on 66483927 or email sdalton@nmsc.edu.au

Photo: The Eastern blue devil fish is one of the threatened and protected marine species being mapped in a project delivered by Southern Cross University researchers. Photo by Associate Professor Steve Smith.