An Environmental Assessment of a Proposed Marine Farm Zone extension at Creeses Mistake, Nubeena Tasmania

An environmental assessment of a proposed marine farm extension at the current Creeses Mistake lease at Nubeena was conducted in June 2013. Environmental data on substrate type, habitat distribution, bathymetry, benthic flora and fauna was assessed. Within the proposed zone extension, the substrate was 100% sand which was dominated (80% cover) by partially buried screwshells (Maoricolpus roseus). The sand also hosted patchy macroalgae growing from shells including red algae, encrusting coralline algae and Caulerpa sp. The key species that could be readily identified from the macroalgae assemblage in reef area comprised of Macrocystis pyrifera, Ecklonia radiata, Carpoglossum confluens, Phyllospsora comosa, Caulerpa sp., Cystophora sp., red algae and encrusting coralline algae. The substrate within the entire survey area consisted of a large sandy area (99%) with one small area of reef in the north east corner of the survey region (< 1%). The bathymetric profile of the site ranged from 5 m on the north eastern corner to 30 m in the south western corner with a gradual decrease from the east to the west. Apart from Macrocystis pyrifera, no threatened, endangered or protected species were recorded or observed from the video or grab samples.