Declared Fish Habitat Area summary - Cape Palmerston
Cape Palmerston - Rocky Dam declared Fish Habitat Area
Location
Ince Bay, 50 km south east of Mackay.
Plan number
Size
21,507 ha
15,964 ha management A
5,543 ha management B
Management level
A and B
Declaration dates
20 November 1986 (original declaration)
22 May 2009 (redeclared and combined with Rocky Dam)
Local government
Mackay Regional Council
Management features
The Rocky Dam section (management B) provides wetlands buffer zone for the Cape Palmerston section (management A).
Habitat values
Extensive Avicennia, Ceriops and Rhizophora mangrove, intertidal flats and saltmarsh areas along Rocky Dam Creek estuary; fringing inshore reef and seagrass beds in Ince Bay; small portions of freshwater in Rocky Dam Creek; large sandy bay that at low tide reveals estuarine sandbars and channels; characterised by high tidal range.
Fisheries values
Protection of commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishing grounds; penaeid prawn habitat; barramundi; blue salmon; bream; estuary cod; flathead; grey mackerel; grunter; mangrove jack; queenfish; sea mullet; school mackerel; whiting; banana prawns; oysters; mud crabs.
Other values
Dugong habitat in Ince Bay.