Declared Fish Habitat Area summary - Margaret Bay (Wuthathi)
Margaret Bay / Wuthathi declared Fish Habitat Area
Location
Foreshore from Olive River, north around Cape Grenville including Home Islands, Margaret Bay and Shelburne Bay to Double Point, 100 km north of Portland Roads.
Plan number
FHA-070 (revision 1)
Size
27,556 ha
24,349 ha management A
3,207 ha management B
Management level
A and B
Declaration dates
25 February 2005 (original declaration)
28 March 2008 (redeclared to correct a boundary error)
Local government
Cook Shire Council
Management features
Culturally significant area managed by the Wuthathi people; diverse range of near pristine habitats of significant fisheries value; adjoins Temple Bay declared FHA.
Habitat values
Mangrove-lined estuaries with at least 23 species, dominated by Rhizophora, Bruguiera and Ceriops; marshes and saltpans; intertidal banks; extensive, diverse and dense seagrass meadows containing at least eight species; extensive macroalgae beds; rocky shores; adjoining/adjacent freshwater wetlands.
Fisheries values
Traditional, recreational and commercial fishing; barramundi; tarpon; threadfin salmon; grey mackerel; shark; estuary cod; mangrove jack; fingermark.
Unique features
None presently identified.
Other values
Important dugong habitat, coral reefs, islands.
Further references
Sheppard, R, Roelofs, A E, Garrett, R & Helmke, S A 2002, Margaret Bay and surrounds: assessment of fisheries resources, August 2001, Information Series QI02003, Queensland Department of Primary Industries