Recovery of fish and crustacean communities during remediation of tidal wetlands affected by leachate from acid sulfate soils in north-eastern Australia |
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Authors: | D J Russell K M Preston R J Mayer |
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Institution: | (1) Northern Fisheries Centre, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, PO Box 5396, Cairns, QLD, 4870, Australia;(2) Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, PO Box 1085, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia |
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Abstract: | In the 1970s, acid sulfate soils (ASS) distributed within about 720 ha of predominantly mangrove and salt pan wetlands at
East Trinity in north Queensland were developed after the area was isolated from tidal flooding by a surrounding seawall and
the installation of tidal gates on major drainage creeks. Following drainage and oxidation of these estuarine acidic sediments,
resultant acid leachate caused considerable, ongoing environmental problems including regular fish kills. A rehabilitation
program covering much of these former tidal wetlands commenced in 2000 using a lime-assisted tidal exchange management regime.
Changes in the established populations of estuarine fish and crustaceans were monitored in the two creeks (Firewood and Hills
Creeks) where tidal flows were reinstated. In Firewood Creek between 2001 and 2005, there was a progressive increase in fish
species richness, diversity and abundance. The penaeid prawn Fenneropenaeus merguiensis was a major component of the cast net catches in the lower sections of both Firewood and Hills Creeks but its relative abundance
decreased upstream of the tidal gates on the seawall. Well established stocks of predominantly juvenile, male Scylla serrata resident upstream of the tidal gates indicated suitable habitats with acceptable water and sediment quality and adequate
availability of food. The regular fish kills that occurred prior to the management regime abated and, overall, the implementation
of the rehabilitation program is yielding positive benefits for the local fisheries. |
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