The State Government’s announcement of $17.4 million for social and environmental initiatives in Cockburn Sound has been welcomed by Recfishwest.
Among the initiatives being funded are new artificial reefs and more seagrass restoration — two measures Recfishwest has long supported.
Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland said, “We welcome the Government’s commitment to artificial reefs and seagrass restoration – both are proven tools for supporting healthy marine ecosystems and better fishing.
“We’ve advocated for these initiatives for some time and it’s good to see them get a guernsey in this budget.”
Cockburn Sound artificial reefs – have your say
The Government’s Westport program is seeking community feedback on the best location for the reefs. Recfishwest encourages all metro fishers to have their say – click here to access the survey.
Ongoing concerns about dredging
While we welcome these habitat initiatives, serious concerns remain about the potential impact of the dredging that will be required to create the new port and a new shipping channel that will service it.
What you need to know about the dredging
“The sheer scale of dredging and the plume it will create is the most concerning aspect of the Westport project,” said Recfishwest CEO Dr Andrew Rowland.
The international experience has shown dredging can have massive impacts on the environment. Even after the dredgers leave, it can take decades — or longer — for marine ecosystems to recover. In some cases, they never do.
Dredging increases turbidity, reduces light penetration and smothers seagrass meadows which are vital habitat for species like snapper, crabs, whiting, herring and squid.
It’s a concern that is shared by the Westport developers themselves – Westport Managing Director Patrick Seares told the ABC in a recent interview, “We realise this is a public project led by the public, by the Government for the public – so we’ve got to take care of their assets.
“For us it’s about managing the dredging program, the plumes coming out of dredging and making sure we protect the Sound through that.”
Recfishwest will continue to advocate for the long-term health of the Sound and the safe, accessible and much cherished fishing experiences it supports for thousands of fishers.
“We’ll keep supporting positive habitat outcomes,” said Andrew, “but we’ll also keep pushing for clarity and accountability around environmental impacts and will fight to maintain and improve Cockburn Sound.”
