Seagrass Transplanting in Temperate

W t
Western
Australian
A t li Waters
W t

Dr Jonathan Anderson and Dr Karen Crawley

PIANC Sustainable Ports Workshop
Sydney, September 2013

G
General
l seagrass information
i f
ti
Seagrass Research and Rehabilitation Plan
Projects and future research
Established knowledge

Seagrass Importance

Complex three-dimensional habitat

provides shelter and food for invertebrates (e.g. crabs) and fish
nursery habitat for juvenile invertebrates and fish
Carbon sink (rehabilitation is potential carbon sequestration)

Seagrass Habitat Destruction

Direct loss from development footprint
Reduction in light over long periods (e.g. dredging)
Increased sediment deposition/erosion
natural sediment migration

Why Transplant Seagrass?

Regulatory
mitigate unavoidable loss viable offset
satisfy regulatory commitments
Ecologically
replace
p
ecosystem
y
function
increase rate of infilling or establishment

grass Research and Rehabilitation Plan (2003 to 2012)

Goal: rehabilitation procedures that are economically feasible &
environmentally sustainable
SRRP Management Group:
Cockburn Cement, Department of Commerce, Oceanica Consulting
SRRP Management, Publicity, Commercialisation, Reporting:

ss Function &
Growth
SRRP 1):

ersity of WA
n & Associates

Oceanica Consulting

Micro propagation
Micro-propagation
(SRRP 2):

Seagrass
Transplanting
(SRRP 3):

University of WA
Kings Park Botanic
Gardens & Parks

Murdoch University
Bastyan & Associates
Ocean Industries

Ecological Function of
seagrasses
(SRRP 4):
Edith Cowan University
University of WA
Kings Park Botanic
Gardens & Parks

Manual Transplanting Success

Posidonia:
Cockburn Sound: 3.1 ha planted 2004-2008 (>78,000 sprigs)
Survival 50-90%, shoot density comparable to natural meadows

Alb
Albany:
>1
1h
ha 70-90%
70 90%
individual sprigs merged together in 3-5 yrs
donor meadow recovery 2-3 years
flowering occurred after about 4 years
SRRP Synthesis Report available

March 2004

Manual Transplanting Success

Initial transplant
p

3 ha Rehabilitation
April 2010

2 year old transplants

Cockburn Sound
November 2011

itation projects BMT Oceanica involved in

Depth

Species

Context

ss Research & Rehabilitation Plan (SRRP):

Cockburn Sound
mooring scars, Owen Anchorage

2-3 m
4m

P. australis
P. sinuosa

M599:7.2
M490:4.1
Client initiative

missioning Plan:
d areas 13-14 m, Owen Anchorage

13-14 m

P. angustifolia
P. sinuosa

M599:8
Client initiative

1-2 m

P. australis
P. sinuosa

Client initiative

1-3 m

P. australis
P. sinuosa

M599:7.2

Waterfront Development
PRH)

1-3 m

P. australis
P. sinuosa

M787:9.2

Port Expansion Project

PRH)

3-4 m

P. sinuosa

M846:6.1

rn Sound/Owen Anchorage

Bay marina:
oring scars, Cockburn Sound

(Oyster Harbour and Princess Royal Harbour)

OH) and trials (PRH)

BMT Oceanica Ongoing Seagrass Research

Depth dependant (up to 14 m)
Amphibolis seedlings trials
Pilot studies & site selection essential

Seagrass Rehabilitation Knowledge

Transplant success greater than anticipated
Developed proven field techniques
Numerous successful rehabilitation projects

BMT Oceanica white paper

on seagrass rehabilitation
Posidonia rehabilitation
manual on BMT Oceanica
website

Research Groups

Park Botanical Garden & Park Authority

sity
sit of Western Australia
A stralia

ch University

Cowan Universityy

n & Associates
Industries

SRRP Research Funding

g
Cockburn Cement Limited