2021-01-18 GC - Item 1 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation 2019 20 Annual Report

                                                   NOOSA BIOSPHERE RESERVE FOUNDATION – 2019/20




Biodiversity in the Noosa River: An Assessment of Prawn and Estuarine Biodiversity
Recovery.
The Noosa River and Lakes system and Laguna Bay                •   Assessment outcomes to be reviewed by
were once teeming with marine life; however, the                   Noosa Council for future river
Noosa River lower estuary and river mouth has                      management.
changed extensively through human activity. A
current lack of knowledge of estuarine health and          Status
biodiversity levels in the Noosa estuary hinders           A final report to include isotope data, updated
our ability to detect declines and limits effective        species list and photographic database is due by
estuarine management.                                      Dec 2020.

The Biodiversity in the Noosa River project aimed          Reports
to study the benthic layer and river biodiversity to       Biodiversity in the Noosa River System – Executive
assess the viability of restoring prawn stocks in          Summary
the Noosa River and Lakes. It is the third                 Biodiversity in the Noosa River System – Full
component of the broader Bring Back the Fish               Report
research program, a joint initiative to
progressively re-establish and restore resilient           Proponents
natural aquatic ecosystems in the Noosa Estuary,           Noosa Parks Association Inc. and The Thomas
River and Lakes system through three key                   Foundation
priorities: Biodiversity in the Noosa River, Noosa
Oyster Reef Restoration Trial and Keeping it in Kin        Project Partners
Kin.                                                       The University of Queensland, Murdoch
                                                           University, Noosa Shire Council, Ecological Service
Outcomes                                                   Professionals.
   • Establish a baseline understanding of the
      environmental condition and biodiversity             Media Coverage
      of the Noosa River estuary to enable the             Dredging river mouth ‘best way’ to bring back fish
      identification of future declines and                Muddled Waters River Health Shows Rapid
      associated causes, and to assist in                  Decline
      effective estuarine and fisheries                    Controversial dredging recommended
      management.                                          Drowning in Mud
   • Develop a suitable method and map of                  7 News Sunshine Coast – Decline in fish and sea
      the various human threats likely to impact           creatures in Noosa River
      estuarine diversity in the Noosa Estuary.            WIN News Bio Decline
   • Provide possible management                           9 News local update
      recommendations and implications to                  ABC Coast FM report - Noosa River study
      reduce the potential impact of fine
      sediment throughout the system.


                                                 PROJECT VALUE
       NBRF FUNDING               CASH & IN-KIND            PROJECT VALUE                 LEVERAGE
          $157,800                    $287,000                   $444,800                     3:1




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