Posidonia meadows are an incredibly important habitat for a variety of fish species, capturing large amounts of carbon and protecting shorelines from erosion. They have been declining at an alarming rate in NSW’s most populated estuaries due to human pressures. One of the most significant ongoing threats to Posidonia meadows is traditional swing moorings with heavy chains that scour the seafloor.
Operation Posidonia is combining seagrass rehabilitation with environmentally friendly moorings, which don’t have a swinging chain component, while also restoring the species to old mooring ‘scars’ where the seagrass has not recovered naturally. Operation Posidonia has developed a restoration method that doesn’t require removing donor material from remaining vulnerable meadows.
Citizen scientists known as the ‘Storm Squad’ are asked to collect naturally-detached fragments of the seagrass that wash ashore in strong winds. If fragments still have a rhizome (anchoring structure) attached, they can be replanted underwater. Operation Posidonia is focusing its efforts around Belmont and Marks Point, where most of the Lake’s Posidonia meadows are found. Replanting of seagrass collected by citizen scientists began in May near Belmont Baths.
Most of Lake Macquarie’s Posidonia meadows exist on the Eastern side of the lake, between Swansea and Belmont. Small pockets exist elsewhere, such as at Coal Point. Depending on wind conditions, however, it is possible to find Posidonia fragments in almost all corn
ers of the lake. You can expect to find washed-up fragments around Coal Point and Toronto after strong southerly and easterly winds.
There are moves afoot to get a collection station at the Toronto Baths, but in the meantime fragments can be deposited at Belmont Baths.
Find out all the information you need to join the Storm Squad at operationposidonia.com/lake-macquarie
Clayton Mead | Research Assistant , UNSW Sydney
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