Priorities Action Statement - Actions for the endangered populations of Posidonia australis in Port Hacking, Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour, Pittwater, Brisbane Waters and Lake Macquarie

Recovery Actions

Ensure that all relevant stakeholders, including local councils and government agencies take Posidonia australis into consideration during development impact assessment procedures required by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Fisheries Management Act 1994 (High priority).

Compile existing information on Posidonia australis and identify knowledge gaps for the purpose of targeting future research activities (Medium priority).
Collate data on the historical distribution of Posidonia australis including anecdotal and indigenous knowledge (Low priority).

Implement education initiatives to improve awareness of the status of the Posidonia australis and ways to minimise impacts on the species by preparing and distributing appropriate advisory material (High priority).
Educate the boating community to avoid anchoring in or mooring boats over Posidonia australis beds (High priority).
Install signs and/or interpretive displays at appropriate locations to assist with identification and awareness of Posidonia australis (Medium priority).
Educate the community on how to identify Posidonia australis from other seagrass (Medium priority).
Encourage community reporting of Posidonia australis via the NSW DPI Threatened and Pest Species Sightings Program online form (Low priority).

Maximise compliance activities at identified important sites (High priority).

Consider existing knowledge of Posidonia australis in the development of marine parks and marine estate planning decisions (High priority).

Undertake work to identify, restore and protect known and potential Posidonia australis habitats and address key threats such as habitat degradation and water quality decline from expanding development (High priority).
Seek funds to undertake priority rehabilitation and restoration work at key sites through grant schemes or other sources (Medium priority).

Determine the nature of interactions and impact of the invasive alga, Caulerpa taxifolia on populations of Posidonia australis (Medium priority).

Undertake research to identify, prioritise and improve understanding of the threatening processes and causes of decline of Posidonia australis (High priority).
Conduct research on the biology and ecology of Posidonia australis, particularly the species' ecological role, environmental tolerances, factors influencing population dynamics, age and growth, life cycle and diet (High priority).
Monitor Posidonia australis population over time to assess trends in abundance and distribution and to identify emerging threatening processes (High priority).
Actively seek grants or investor partnerships to fund research and monitoring programs for Posidonia australis (Medium priority).
Actively encourage community involvement in aspects of Posidonia australis research and monitoring programs (Low priority).

Conduct surveys to map the extent of Posidonia australis endangered populations in Port Hacking, Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour, Pittwater, Brisbane Waters and Lake Macquarie, NSW and produce high resolution distribution maps for the use relevant councils and other authorities (High priority).
Collect data on the presence/absence of Posidonia australis during incidental surveys (Medium priority).