Report
Marine Ecological Surveys for the Proposed Ballina Ocean Pool Report for the Ballina Ocean Pool Committee
Southern Cross University
2017
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Abstract
The construction of a new ocean pool has been proposed on the rocky shore at Shelly Beach, Ballina, NSW, Australia. Intertidal reefs are highly variable habitats that can support a diversity of invertebrate species. The construction of artificial pools on rocky headlands has the potential to either negatively affect the intertidal communities by removing important habitat, or to enhance the habitat complexity and associated ecological value, depending on the natural features of the site and the pool design. Consequently, this report was commissioned to investigate the ecological importance of the proposed pool site and provide recommendations for minimising the impacts.
Surveys of the intertidal biodiversity and habitat complexity were undertaken at the proposed pool site and on the adjacent rock platform to the immediate north. The mollusc communities at Shelly Beach were then compared to four other locations in northern NSW, using previous surveys undertaken in similar habitat, using the same methodology. Survey data, using predatory whelks and cunjevoi as indicator organisms, was also analysed to compare Shelly Beach to five other sites in the region. Data on fishing related debris was also collated and analysed from the same sites.
Details
- Title
- Marine Ecological Surveys for the Proposed Ballina Ocean Pool Report for the Ballina Ocean Pool Committee
- Creators
- Kirsten Benkendorff - Southern Cross UniversityCaitlin Wood - Southern Cross UniversityLisa McComb - Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University; Lismore, Australia
- Identifiers
- 991013403925002368
- Copyright
- © Southern Cross University
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Marine Ecology Research Centre; National Marine Science Centre; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Report