Linking flow, nutrients, seagrass and fish: an integrated approach to estuary management

  • Cook, Perran (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
  • Beardall, John (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Cartwright, Ian (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Swearer, Stephen (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Walker, Jeffrey (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Adams, Heather (Partner Investigator (PI))
  • Mainville, Daniel (Partner Investigator (PI))
  • McCowan, Andrew D. (Partner Investigator (PI))
  • Moulden, Bill (Partner Investigator (PI))
  • Reich, Paul (Partner Investigator (PI))

Project: Research

Project Details

Project Description

Estuaries are iconic recreational areas providing both ecological habitat and millions of dollars in revenue to
the tourism and fisheries industries. How estuaries respond to human pressures is highly variable with some
such as the Gippsland Lakes succumbing to algal blooms, whilst other heavily nutrient laden systems such
as the Werribee Estuary support extremely high fish populations. This project will lead to an understanding of
the links between freshwater flow, blue-green algal blooms, and recruitment of a key fishery species, Black
Bream. The outcome of the project will give catchment managers greater confidence in setting levels of
environmental flows that will both support fish populations but also mitigate against algal blooms.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date5/12/14 → 31/12/18

Funding

  • Australian Research Council (ARC): A$736,754.00
  • University of Melbourne
  • Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) (Victoria): A$60,000.00
  • Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee: A$347,232.00
  • Water Technology Pty Ltd
  • Melbourne Water Corporation (trading as Melbourne Water) (Victoria): A$150,000.00
  • Gippsland Lakes Ministerial Advisory Committee: A$42,768.00
View all 6 research outputs