2015-11-10 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                         10 NOVEMBER 2015


7                        NOOSA RIVER HISTORICAL FISHERIES RESEARCH REPORT
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                           Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast), Jan Maddin
                                 Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                            ECM/ Subject/ Waterway Management – Noosa River

Attachments                      1   Historical ecology of the Noosa Estuary fisheries report
                                 2   An Assessment of Oyster Recruitment in the Noosa Estuary
                                 3   Noosa Estuary and Lakes restoration options assessment report
                                 (Note– Attachments have been provided separately to this Agenda;
                                 2 hard copies have been provided in the Councillors Room)



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Not applicable.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Environment Officer (Rivers and Coast) to the Planning &
Organisation Committee Meeting dated 10 November 2015 and thank both the Thomas
Foundation for co-funding the historical fisheries study, and The Nature Conservancy and Dr
Ruth Thurstan for undertaking the research.

REPORT
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an overview of the research findings
regarding historical fisheries productivity in the Noosa Estuary.

This study was undertaken by The Nature Conservancy through Dr Ruth Thurstan and funded
through a partnership between Noosa Shire Council and the Thomas Foundation.

The aim of this research was to develop an understanding of historical fisheries productivity in
the Noosa Estuary to inform the Noosa community about ecological changes that occurred prior
to their lifetimes. It was intended to also provide insights into the species that inhabited the
Noosa River and their changing abundance over time (see Attachment 1).

The research will help inform Council and project partners about management or restoration
options required to increase fish abundance and aquatic biodiversity in the Noosa Estuary, and
provide a baseline assessment of the estuary’s biodiversity and health.


Research methodology

The historical fisheries research charts the evolution of the fisheries from existing records, and
places these into the context of the broader environmental changes that have occurred within the
river system in recent decades.

To achieve this, archival materials were collated and local residents interviewed. Data collation
focused on commercial and recreational fin fisheries, prawns and oysters.




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