Declared Fish Habitat Area summary - Fitzroy River
![Fitzroy River](https://parks.desi.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0026/150866/fitzroy.jpg)
Fitzroy River
Location
Parts of the Fitzroy River estuary, Raglan Creek and the wetland systems surrounding North Curtis Island and within the Fitzroy delta south-east of Rockhampton.
Plan number
FHA-072 (Revision 1)
Size
77,878 ha
Management level
A
Declaration dates
28 March 2008 (original declaration)
30 September 2016 (redeclared to include Balaclava Island and areas within the Fitzroy delta).
Local government
Livingstone Shire Council/Rockhampton Regional Council/Gladstone Regional Council
Management features
Management of highly productive fisheries area.
Habitat values
Extensive saltpans and saline grasslands fed by mangrove-lined creeks; closed mixed-species mangrove forests dominated by Grey mangrove (Avicennia marina), Spotted or Red mangrove (Rhizophora stylosa) and Spurred mangrove (Ceriops tagal); mud and sand flats; rocky headlands and brackish lagoons.
Fisheries values
Commercial, recreational and Indigenous fisheries resources; mud crab; barramundi; banana prawns; king salmon; blue salmon; sea mullet; grunter and shark.
Unique features
The Fitzroy River delta is the end point of the largest river system in Queensland; southern distributional limit of Sea Holly or Holly mangrove (Acanthus ilicifolius). Lies within and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the Capricorn coast net-free fishing zone.
Other values
None presently identified.
Further references
Bruinsma, C 2000, Queensland coastal wetland resources: Sand Bay to Keppel Bay, Information Series QI00100, Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing 2014, Fisheries resources of Balaclava Island, Fitzroy River: Central Queensland .
Long, P & McKinnon, S 2002, Habitats and fisheries resources of the Fitzroy River estuary (Central Queensland), Queensland Department of Primary Industries.
Richardson, D & Jones, C 2015, Assessment of sub-tidal habitats at Cawarral Creek, Calliope River and Balaclava Island – Final Report , BMT WBM Pty Ltd (Executive Summary – full report can be obtained by emailing marine.policy@des.qld.gov.au).
Sheaves, M, Johnston, R & Mattone, C 2014, Balaclava Island 2014 fish survey , School of marine and tropical biology, James Cook University.