Declared Fish Habitat Area summary - Starcke River (Ngulun)
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
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.