cuttlefish country - presentation to biologists - may 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Cuttlefish Country
Presentation Brief:
An overview of the existing and future pressures facing the Giant Australian Cuttlefish and wider ecology of Upper Spencer Gulf, South Australia.
Dan Monceaux, Director – Danimations Pty. Ltd. May 2012
A feature-length documentary film exploring the environmental and social impacts of mining developments around Upper Spencer Gulf (in production)
The Trouble with Cuttles
Dan Monceaux, Director – Danimations Pty. Ltd. May 2012
2011 Very low population count Unusually high rainfall year Unusually late drop in water temp Groundwater contamination Eggs not sticking to reef New resident predators Kingfish farms relocated Snapper stocks down … new industrial developments?
Lifespan 1-2 yearsEggs vulnerable to salinity increaseVulnerable to noise pollutionTargetted commercial fishing
Future Developments
Dan Monceaux, Director – Danimations Pty. Ltd. May 2012
Desalination Plants
BHP Billiton Desalination Plant (280 megalitres/day) – approvedBraemar Alliance Desalination Plant (137 megalitres/day) – planningPort Spencer Desalination Plant (137 megalitres/day) – planning
Port Construction / Expansion
BHP Billiton Landing Facility, Port Augusta – approvedOneSteel Harbor expansion, Whyalla – approvedLucky Bay harbor expansion – approvedPort Bonython expansion – proposedPort Spencer Construction – proposedBacky Point Wharf – concept only
Other Developments
Mitsubishi Diesel Storage & Refinery, Point Lowly – approvedISR uranium mines, south of Whyalla – proposedTechnical Ammonium Nitrate Plant, Point Lowly – planningArafura Rare Earths (& Uranium) Processing Plant, Whyalla – planning
Calling all biologists...
Dan Monceaux, Director – Danimations Pty. Ltd. May 2012
Time for some urgent field work!
New development proposals are challenged when they threaten populations of EPBC Act listed speciesEPNRM report notes lack of data for Lowly Peninsula flora and faunaNo cetaceans/great white sharks listed at Port Spencer site, despite anecdotal evidencePort Spencer bypassed EPBC Act referral, worth challengingCuttlefish genetics and morphology studies require more research and fundingDolphins of Upper Spencer Gulf may also be distinct species/subspecies (ie. Tursiops australis)Salinity sensitivity of other species' early life stages unknownCumulative impact of multiple desal brine inputs, water extraction, industrial contamination?
Thankyou.
Dan Monceaux, Director – Danimations Pty. Ltd. May 2012
Find out more athttp://cuttlefishcountry.com
Dan MonceauxDirector, Cuttlefish Country
ph. 0411 039 [email protected]