Declared Fish Habitat Area summary - Annan River
Estuarine reaches, Saltwater Creek
Location
Parts of Annan River and Walker Bay, adjacent to southern edge of Cooktown.
Plan number
Size
1,753 ha
875 ha management A
878 ha management B
Management level
A and B
Declaration dates
19 December 2003 (original declaration)
Local government
Cook Shire Council
Management features
Protection of valuable commercial, recreational and Indigenous fisheries resources; management of diverse habitats in near pristine condition near the township of Cooktown.
Habitat values
Approximately 15km of pristine freshwater habitats including riffles and pools; estuarine waters; mangrove forests—at least 11 species, dominated by Rhizophora and Ceriops; salt couch flats; sand and mud flats; rock bars; seagrass beds; coral reefs; rocky headlands.
Fisheries values
Commercial, recreational and indigenous subsistence fishing; barramundi; mangrove jack; estuary cod; flathead; jungle perch; sooty grunter; trevally; queenfish; grunter; threadfin salmon; garfish; mud crabs; three species of freshwater mussel; mackerel; reef fish.
Other values
Considered critically important to the Yuku Baja Muliku people who have had a connection to this location for generations.
Further references
Sheppard, R & Helmke, S A 1999, A fisheries resource assessment of the Annan River, North Queensland, DPI Information Series QI99043.
Chin, A; Hale, L; Klunzinge, M; Gerhardt, K; 2016, Freshwater mussel surveys from the Annan River: Yuku Baja Muliku Country – project findings. Research Gate, http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32313.77929