Tag: uwa

“Roboseeder” robot in trials to ramp up restoration of critical Cockburn Sound seagrass habitat

A cutting edge “roboseeder” underwater robot is being trialled in Cockburn Sound to sew seagrass seeds help restore depleted beds of the ecologically critical plant.

Cockburn Sound has lost 80 per cent of its seagrass meadows since the 1960s due to industrialisation – a big dent in critical spawning habitat for species like pink snapper, whiting, squid and crabs.

This mirrors a global trend that is seeing seagrass crops being steadily depleted due to industrialisation and climate change.

“The biggest challenge we face globally is that we’re losing seagrass at about one soccer field, or half a hectare, every 30 minutes,” said Professor Gary Kendrick from the School of Biological Sciences and UWA’s Oceans Institute.  “We need to be able to restore hundreds to thousands of hectares a year.”

The trial is being funded through the Government’s $13.5 million Westport Marine Science Program and if successful could help compliment the great work being done by volunteers as part of Ozfish’s Seeds for Snapper program in reseeding seagrass meadows in the Sound.

The newly arrived underwater robot, or seed injection machine drone, could help improve the rate of restoration significantly by allowing seeds to survive early life in, rather than on top of, the sediment.

 The “Roboseeder” in action – it has the potential to sow thousands of seagrass seeds on the ocean floor to help restore lost seagrass habitat  lost by industrialisation and climate change. 

Recfishwest Operations Manager Leyland Campbell said, “It’s good to see innovative solutions being investigated to fix a problem that has been decades in the making. Any efforts to restore seagrass and productivity in Cockburn Sound are to be applauded.

“Seagrass is critical to the ecological health of Cockburn Sound and spawning habitat for fish that underpins fantastic family fishing experiences on Perth’s doorstep.

“That’s why the Government and developers need to be very careful about further industrialisation of the Sound until we are able to restore and protect this important environment.”

Great survey with prizes to help grow our understanding of artificial structures’ value to recfishers

As much of the WA fishing community is aware, the north-west of Western Australia has both productive fisheries and extensive offshore oil and gas infrastructure.

A great amberjack caught by Nick at the Key Biscayne wreck out from Lancelin.

These structures support a range of demersal and pelagic fish that have all the ingredients for world class fishing but are often within no-fishing zones due to oil and gas exclusions.

As discussed in the latest article from editor of Western Angler Magazine, Scott Coghlan, there are some great opportunities that could benefit the fishers and divers of WA by repurposing offshore oil and gas structures into artificial reefs. Read what Scott had to say here.

Recfishwest would rather see offshore infrastructure retained and enhanced to form thriving marine habitats to help build resilience in our oceans and provide communities with more fishing opportunities for many years to come.

The following survey link is a great opportunity to quantify how important these structures are to fishing and diving and to highlight why they should be retained and enhanced.

Survey link here.

Also anyone who fishers off any of WA’s jetties, piers or platforms are asked to complete the survey and demonstrate the value these structures are to your fishing.

Everyone who completes the survey will also go in the draw to win one of three $750 visa cards that are up for grabs.

The top banner image is of the Key Biscayne which is an example of a rig that is now a world-class dive site and exceptional fishing location after it was lost in a storm on route to Fremantle in 1983 and now rests in 42m of water, 20km south-west from Lancelin. Picture from ImageDive.com