The development of Environmentally Friendly Moorings (EFMs) aims to reduce the well-known impact of traditional chain moorings on a wide range of habitats including seagrass meadows and soft-sediments. They work by replacing long chains with a shorter elastic rope, thus reducing the contact between mooring infrastructure and the seafloor. In NSW, Australia, the impacts of traditional chain moorings are associated with declines in the endangered meadows of the seagrass Posidonia australis.
We aimed to investigate the trajectory of ecological recovery following conversion of chain moorings to EFMs at 20 locations across Jervis Bay (NSW), Sydney Harbour (NSW), and the Derwent Estuary (TAS). We surveyed the associated communities prior to conversion, and 12 months after conversion. At each location, we also surveyed one chain mooring and one undisturbed plot, providing a before-after, control-impact design. The associated communities in all sites were quantified by recording habitat cover from in-situ photos, the abundance and composition of benthic fish from diver surveys, and invertebrate communities from sediment cores.
Progress to-date will be reported with the results allowing an improved understanding of the restoration potential of EFMs in soft-sediment communities. We anticipate these results will guide managers in building estuary resilience and improving biodiversity.