Our Sea, Our Future
Major findings of the State of the Marine Environment Report for Australia
Compiled by Leon P. Zann
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville Queensland
Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, Canberra (1995)
ISBN 0 642 17391 5
Population:3.7 million (70% in Melbourne and Geelong). Coastline: 200km long. Highest coastal population density and industrial development in Australia. Major features: open coasts and lakes in east; large bays, inlets, estuaries and lakes. Problem areas include: Port Phillip Bay (especially Corio Bay, Hobsons Bay Geelong Arm), and Western Port and Gippsland Lakes.(6-14),(42-47),(53)
Major State and regional issues include:
- below standard water quality of some coastal waters, particularly from nutrients in sewage effluent and stream discharges
- coastal strip development, catchment disturbances, silt from rivers, loss of habitat areas
- degradation of areas of estuaries and inlets
- die-off of seagrass
- localised pollution of sediments near boat harbours (e.g. Corio Bay)
- algal blooms
- impacts from offshore oil exploration and extraction
- localised oil spills (especially Port Phillip Bay)
- protection and preservation of Aboriginal sites of significance
- Aboriginal fishing rights and interests
- competing coastal uses (urban, industrial and tourism development, fisheries, oil and conservation)
- alteration of hydrological cycles in some estuaries
- introduction of exotic species (algae, seastars)
- over fishing (sharks, rock lobsters)
- effects of trawling and dredging on sea floor
- Dredging and spoil disposal
Victoria
Port Phillip Bay and Western Port
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