Declared Fish Habitat Area summary - Cape Palmerston - Rocky Dam
Cape Palmerston - Rocky Dam declared Fish Habitat Area
Location
Ince Bay, 50km 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 a wetlands buffer zone for the Cape Palmerston section (management A).
Habitat values
Extensive mangrove communities (Avicennia, Ceriops and Rhizophora species) 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.
Unique features
Lies within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and Ince Bay dugong protection area.
Other values
Dugong habitat in Ince Bay.