Coast & Estuaries
Page 224
Gulf St Vincent & Coast
Introduction
The coast of the Gulf St Vincent is home to approximately 95% of the State’s
population. The establishment of post-European settlement and development in
these coastal areas has contributed to significant degradation of marine
environments.
Gulf St Vincent is a ‘reverse estuary’ (more saline at the top of the Gulf, than at
the ocean mouth) which has limited exchange with the Southern Ocean. This
has consequences on water quality as the water in the Gulf has a longer
residence time when compared with the open ocean, encouraging the
accumulation of nutrients and other pollutants. The movement of polluted water
from discharge sources can have negative environmental impacts on regions of
the Gulf, such as encouraging the growth of the pest turf-forming Caulerpa
or
Ulva species.
Gulf St Vincent is a shallow, sheltered tidal estuary with a biologically diverse
and highly productive ecosystem, comprising seagrasses, mangroves and tidal
salt-marshes. The recreational fishing community and commercial fishing
industry rely heavily on the protection of the Gulf's water quality to maintain fish
and crustacean stocks. It is also a popular and important recreational feature of
metropolitan Adelaide’s coastline.
The coast of Adelaide (with the exception of the Port Adelaide River and Barker
Inlet) generally comprises sandy beaches and sand dunes that are used for
recreational purposes. The coastal area that is the subject of this section can be
defined as the 8km stretch from the end of Bower Road at Semaphore South to
the Outer Harbor breakwater at the northern end of the Lefevre Peninsula.
There are no major commercial fisheries or aquaculture operations located on
the beaches of Port Adelaide Enfield. Seaweed harvesting is allowed if licensed
by the relevant authorities. The sand dunes have significant biodiversity value
and require careful management to ensure the recreational uses of the beach,
or inappropriate development, do not have an adverse impact.
Management of the coastal vegetation has been a priority for the City of Port
Adelaide Enfield, with various biodiversity monitoring and management plans
put in place to conserve and protect the coastal systems and supported
biodiversity.
