The overall condition of seagrass in

Cleveland Bay was classed as satisfactory in 2019.

The October 2019 peak season survey indicated there may have been a

‘lag effect’ or legacy of the February floods, with seagrass biomass at

coastal meadows not returning to ‘typical’ peak season levels.Satisfactory

Result

The May 2019 senescent season survey indicated that the February 2019floods and the associated flood plume did not have as great an impact onseagrass as expected, with seagrass found throughout much of the Townsvilleport limits during May.

A large deep-water seagrass meadow was recorded in the October peak

season survey, with seagrass observed at 14.4m deep.  Such an extent of

deep-water seagrass has not been recorded in Townsville since 2008.

K E Y F I N D I N G S

The area of coastal seagrass meadows was similar to that previously

recorded in peak season surveys, despite the overall density of coastal

seagrass being lower than previous years.

Dugongs and their feeding trails in seagrass meadows were observed

during both May and October field surveys.

townsvilleport.com.au/environment                                  Report No. 20/16    March 2020

SEAGRASSSTUDY 2019

The annual report was prepared

by TropWater and James Cook

University for the Seagrass

Health Survey in Cleveland Bay