Coast & Estuaries
Page 212
fringes to eradicate the weed, as the fringe areas pose no real threat to the
marine ecosystem due to their die back in the outer regions in the winter.
The 2007 survey at the Port Adelaide River boat ramps indicated that there
were no fragments of
C. Taxifolia,
present, which suggests that the algae has
not become established at detectable densities or has not been translocated
from the Port River. However, due to the new and existing urban developments
in the upper Port River, the likelihood of boat traffic transporting whole
C.
Taxifolia
plants or fragments from this area has increased (PIRSA, 2008).
PIRSA and SARDI Aquatic Sciences are continuing to monitor and attempt to
manage and eradicate
Caulerpa taxifolia
in the Port Adelaide River. This
includes divers controlling high risk areas, and developing dredging plans. Up
until early 2009 a ban on boat anchoring was in place in the Port Adelaide River
to prevent spread of the weed - the ban was lifted in 2009. Penalties now apply
for people caught translocating the weed from the described contaminated area
to any other waters of South Australia. A map of the
Caulerpa taxifolia
containment area is shown below in figure 52.
An on-going public awareness campaign is being conducted to inform everyone
using the Port River estuary of the problem and how they can assist in its
control.
