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Spatial extent of desalination discharge impacts to habitat-forming species on temperate reefs
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Spatial extent of desalination discharge impacts to habitat-forming species on temperate reefs

Brendan P Kelaher and Melinda A Coleman
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol.175, pp.1-8
02/2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113368
PMID: 35114545

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#13 Climate Action
#14 Life Below Water
#15 Life on Land

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Abstract

Algal turf Ecklonia radiata Desalination Sponges Impact assessment Kelp Reefs Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) Fisheries management Assessment and management of benthic marine ecosystems Wild caught fin fish (excl. tuna)
Outlet infrastructure and hypersaline discharge from large-scale desalination operations have the potential to impact marine environments. Here, we present the results of a six-year M-BACI assessment of the impacts of desalination discharge outlet construction and hypersaline effluent on the cover of habitat-forming species on temperate reefs. The construction of the desalination outlet caused a decrease in the cover of Ecklonia radiata (kelp) and an increase in the cover of algal turfs up to 55 m from the outlet. Following the commencement of discharging of hypersaline brine, the impact to E. radiata and algal turfs persisted, but decreased in spatial extent to be less than 25 m from the outlet. Hypersaline discharge was also associated with a significant decline in the cover of sponges in outlet compared to reference sites. Overall, our results demonstrate that the water security benefits from large-scale desalination may sometimes be appropriately balanced against the associated ecological consequences.

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