Publications

5. Regional issues in the marine environment - continued

South Australia

Population: 1.4 million (most in Adelaide and Fleurieu Peninsula). Coastline: 3,700 km and dry (fewest estuaries in Australia). Major features: mouth of the River Murray via Lake Alexandria; large gulfs (Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf) with cliffed coasts east and west. Major issues stem from declining water quality in gulfs and estuaries. Problem areas include: Port Adelaide, Whyalla, Port Augusta, Port Pirie and Port Lincoln.(6-14),(42-47),(55)

Major State and regional issues include:

• declining water quality: elevated nutrients from sewage and run-off
• degradation of estuaries (5 of 8 threatened)
• loss of habitat (especially mangroves, saltmarsh)
• die-back of seagrass in gulfs
• competing uses of coastal strip
• protection and preservation of Aboriginal sites of significance
• Aboriginal fishing rights and interests
• declining fish stocks (especially southern bluefin tuna, school sharks)
• industrial discharges, toxicants
• threatened species (Australian and New Zealand fur seals, Australian sea lions, southern right whales)
• development of aquaculture

South Australia