Prospects for seascape repair: Three case studies from eastern Australia

Abstract

Summary Three case studies spanning tropical, subtropical and temperate environments highlight the minimum potential benefits of investing in repair of coastal seascapes. Fisheries, a market benefit indicator readily understood by a range of stakeholders from policymakers to community advocates, were used as a surrogate for ecosystem services generated through seascape habitat restoration. For each case study, while recognising that biological information will always remain imperfect, the prospects for seascape repair are compelling.

A systematic review of methods used to study fish in saltmarsh flats

“…In parts of the USA, particularly the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, marsh restoration research has been ongoing for nearly 40 years (Warren et al 2002). There is a dearth of information on restoration works and implications for fish assemblages in other parts of the world (Creighton et al 2019).…”

“…Hettler 1989;Minello and Zimmerman 1992;Peterson and Turner 1994;West and Zedler 2000;Minello et al 2003;Crinall and Hindell 2004;Platell and Freewater 2009). In addition to providing fish habitat, saltmarshes contribute to broader coastal seascape productivity through outwelling and the export of nutrients, organic matter and live organisms (Odum 2002;Kneib 2003;Creighton et al 2019). Through these and several other ecological functions, saltmarshes provide a broad range of highly regarded provisioning, supporting and cultural ecosystem services (Barbier et al 2011;Rogers et al 2016).…”

Mechanical harvester removes invasive aquatic weeds to restore water quality and fish habitat values on the Burdekin floodplain

“…2016; Creighton et al . 2019). In GBR catchments, there is an urgent need to upscale restoration efforts, particularly if we are to achieve the Reef 2050 Plan targets for coastal wetland protection (Wegscheidl et al .…”