Declared Fish Habitat Area summary - Starcke River (Ngulun)

Starcke River declared Fish Habitat Area

Starcke River declared Fish Habitat Area

Location

Starcke River including coastal waters from Lookout Point to Jeannie River, 60 km north of Hopevale.

Plan number

FHA-068 (PDF, 425.3KB)

Size

30,003 ha
20,106 ha management A
9,897 ha management B

Management level

A and B

Declaration dates

25 February 2005 (original declaration) 

Local government

Cook Shire Council

Management features

Highly productive fisheries habitats in pristine or near pristine condition.

Habitat values

One of the most varied coastlines on Cape York Peninsula including large areas of mangrove, tidal floodplains, sand dunes and rocky headlands; 16 species of mangroves dominated by Rhizophora, Avicennia and Ceriops; saltpans and marsh; intertidal flats; extensive intertidal and subtidal seagrass meadows with up to 10 species; important penaeid prawn habitat.

Fisheries values

Indigenous subsistence fishing; commercial net and crab fishery; recreational fishing; barramundi; salmon; queenfish; trevally; grunter; catfish; mullet; mud crabs; reef fish; mackerel.

Unique features

Diversity of pristine habitats of high fisheries value.

Other values

Fringing coral reefs; adjacent melaleuca wetlands; important dugong habitat.

Additional resources

Sheppard, R, Roelofs, A, Garrett, R, Helmke, S & Campey, M 2001, Starcke region: assessment of fisheries resources May–June 2000, Information Series QI 01067, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.