coastal assets Gen

The marine ecosystems of the Fitzroy Region include coral reefs, seagrass meadows, coastal wetlands, estuaries and islands. There are 125 islands in the region, including Curtis, Facing and Townshend islands, the Keppel Island Group and the Capricorn-Bunker group of islands offshore. Some of the species found on these islands are listed as threatened or vulnerable, and have significant cultural values (see table below). The area is part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, which was internationally recognised for its outstanding natural values in 1981.

Important tourism industries use the Keppel and Capricorn-Bunker islands and reefs, and recreational beach activities occur along the coast. Recreational and commercial fisheries target reef fish, mud crabs, barramundi and mangrove jack. Finfish are also grown in coastal aquaculture ventures. The military’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area has been managed by the Department of Defence since 1965.

Click on the tabs above to explore the Marine Ecosystems of the Fitzroy Region.

Follow this link to obtain monitoring results for the health of Port Curtis.

Click on the map at right to view the location of coral reefs and seagrass beds off the Central Queensland coast.

Relative Risk Results for Marine Areas within the Fitzroy Region

Habitat Feature Description Relative risk results Likely rivers of influence
Fine Sediment DIN
Northumberland Island group (northern inshore areas) Contains two main island groups, fringing coral reefs and shoals. Low Low Fitzroy
Percy Islands Island group contains fringing coral reefs. Very Low Very Low Fitzroy
Broad Sound Limited coral reefs and seagrass beds, is naturally highly turbid due to large tidal ranges and is relatively shallow. Low Very Low Fitzroy (limited)
Shoalwater Bay Extensive intertidal seagrass beds, Ramsar wetland, and is protected by the Shoalwater Bay Dugong Protection Area. Low to Very Low Very Low Fitzroy (limited)
Keppel Island Group Fringing (inshore) coral reefs, intertidal seagrass beds and island habitats. High to Moderate High to Moderate Fitzroy

Water Park (predominantly constrained to North Keppels)

Calliope (predominantly constrained to southern-outer areas)
Keppel Bay (coastal areas) Balaclava Island listed on Register of National Estate, naturally high turbidity with limited coral reefs and seagrass beds but contains important coastal wetlands. High in the coastal areas, shifting to Moderate in the outer limits of the bay. High in the coastal areas, shifting to Moderate in the outer limits of the bay. Fitzroy
Curtis Island Fringing coral reefs on south-eastern coast, surveyed seagrass at southern end, wetland areas. High and Moderate in the northern coasts, Moderate in southern coastal areas, Low on the east coast. High and Moderate in the northern and southern coastal areas, Low on the east coast. Calliope

Boyne

Fitzroy (predominantly northern areas only)
Capricorn Cays Group Mid-shelf coral reefs and deep water modelled seagrass. Negligible Negligible Fitzroy

Potentially Burnett River in flood events eg. 2010-11
Rodds Bay Dugong Protection Area (across the southern boundary) Extensive intertidal seagrass beds and fringing coral reefs on the eastern coast of Facing Island. Low Moderate to Low. This area is influenced by Gladstone Harbour and Calliope and Boyne River mouths.

Calliope

Boyne

Burnett (outside of this region)

Fitzroy (limited)