Publications

5. Regional issues in the marine environment - continued

Tasmania

Poopulation: 450,000 (180,000 in Hobart). Coastline: 3,200 km long. Australia's only island State. Major features: headlands interspersed with sand beaches and lagoons in north-east; cliffed coasts and sand beaches in south; sand beaches , headlands river estuaries and harbours in the west; and open coast and river estuaries with numerous islands in the north. Major issues stem from poor water quality (heavy metals, nutrients), introductions of exotic species and fisheries (declining catches, catch sharing). Problem areas include: Derwent River, Maquarie Harbour, Burnie are, D'Entrecasteaux Channel and North West Bay, Orielton Lagoon and Tamar River.(6-14),(42-47),(54)

Major Sate and regional issues include:

• poor water quality in major estuaries from heavy metals from mining and refineries, and elevated nutrients from sewage, urban and agricultural run-off
• coastal catchment development from agriculture, urban and industrial development
• introductions of toxic dinoflagellate (Gymnodinium catenatum), Japanese kelp (Undaria pinnatfida), The Northern Pacific seastar (Asterias amurensis), Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
• decline in fisheries (scallops, lobsters)
• lack of recreational gillnetting controls
• effects of dredging and trawling on sea floor
• alteration of hydrological cycle of major estuaries
• protection and preservation of Aboriginal sites of significance
• Aboriginal fishing rights and interests

Tasmania