Environmentally sensitive boat moorings installed at Cottesloe Reef

24/5/02
Fisheries Minister Kim Chance today inspected five environmentally sensitive boat moorings installed in the Cottesloe Reef Fish Habitat Protection Area (FHPA).
The moorings are designed to eliminate the threat of damage caused to the reef, fragile sponge gardens and seagrass meadows through careless anchoring practices.

"The locations of the moorings were determined following widespread consultation with stakeholders, including conservation groups and recreational fishers," Mr Chance said.
"Prior to their installation a comprehensive on-site underwater survey, which included the use of video, was undertaken by the Fisheries Department.
"This helped to provide important information regarding the sea bed characteristics and to ensure the mooring designs were appropriate."
Mr Chance said boat visitors to the reef would be encouraged to use the permanent moorings, while three marker buoys had also been put in place to clearly define the FHPA boundaries.
He expected the moorings, made possible by a $28,600 grant from Environment Australia's National Moorings Program, would be well used by the boating public.
Cottesloe reef was declared a FHPA last September. The reef stretches intermittently about four kilometres along the coast and the protection status plans to safeguard it from activities like spear fishing, jet ski activity, anchoring and commercial fishing.
Mr Chance said the declaration had encouraged an integrated community-based approach to protect, manage and restore the marine biodiversity. It also provided a framework to involve the community in its management.
"A working group will shortly be established to implement the other strategies outlined in the plan of management," he said.
"It will include representatives of the Cottesloe community, the Cottesloe marine protection group, the Towns of Cottesloe and Mosman Park, marine scientists and the Fisheries Department.
"One of the tasks to be undertaken by the group will be to initiate and co-ordinate studies of the reef to help establish what plants and animals are there, their abundance and distribution and whether existing mechanisms provide adequate protection."
Minister's office: 9213 6700