Fisheries research report No. 186 - A preliminary investigation of the potential impacts of the proposed Kwinana Quay development on the commercially and recreationally important fish and crab species in Cockburn Sound

Authors

C. Wakefield, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Danielle Johnston, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
D C. Harris, Department of Fisheries
Paul Lewis, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentFollow

Publication Date

7-2009

Series Number

186

Publisher

Department of Fisheries

City

Perth, Western Australia

ISBN

1 921258 40 3

ISSN

1035 - 4549

Abstract

Prepared for Fremantle Ports

Cockburn Sound is the largest of the very few protected marine embayments along the lower west coast of Western Australia. It has been recognised as playing an integral role in the life history strategies of many marine species, including the highly valued snapper Pagrus auratus and blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus. Currently, the adult stocks of snapper in the West Coast Bioregion and blue swimmer crabs in Cockburn Sound are at depleted levels, most likely a result of high fishing pressure and below average recruitment in recent years for both species.

Due to increasing shipping operations and limited infrastructure the Port of Fremantle will soon be working at capacity. Thus, to alleviate this situation an additional harbour has been proposed in Cockburn Sound, to be located on the eastern margin north of James Point. This outer harbour development has been named ‘Kwinana Quay’. As part of the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency of Western Australia, the potential impacts of this development on the environment and marine fauna in this embayment need to be assessed. The information provided in this report will aid in the environmental impact assessment to be undertaken by GHD and Oceanica.

This report represents a preliminary investigation into the potential impacts of the Kwinana Quay development on commercially and recreationally important fish and crab species. It needs to be considered that this report does not address any broader biodiversity implications. The studies outlined in this report aimed to establish methods useful for assessment and to provide one year of sound quantitative data for future comparisons.

Number of Pages

98

Keywords

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Cockburn Sound, Warnbro Sound, Kwinana Quay, blue swimmer crab

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Environmental Sciences

Recommended Citation

Wakefield, C. B., Johnston, D. J., Harris, D. C. and Lewis, P. 2009. A preliminary investigation of the potential impacts of the proposed Kwinana Quay development on the commercially and recreationally important fish and crab species in Cockburn Sound. Prepared for Fremantle Ports. Fisheries Research Report No. 186. Department of Fisheries, Western Australia. 98 p.