The Commission for Environmental Sustainability has highlighted threats to Port Phillip and Western Port Bays as part of its 11-week campaign to celebrate Victoria’s marine environment.
The Commission has shared insights from the State of the Bays (SotB) 2016 report, a prelude to a report currently being prepared by the Commissioner and due to be released next year.
“Despite their proximity to the city of Melbourne, both bays generally demonstrate healthy systems,” the Commission said.
“Specific threats linked to population growth include variations in recreational use and variations in litter, nutrients, sediment and pollutant loads to the bays (which may lead to algal bloom events after heavy rainfall events),” it said.
“The SotB 2016 report assesses a diverse range of threats to the Bays, including climate change impacts such as heavy rainfall that transports high loads of nutrients and pollutants to the bays in short time periods.”
The Commission said marine pests were also a threat, with more than 100 introduced marine species – plants and animals – already established in Port Phillip Bay.
“These pests can compete with native species, alter habitat, reduce important fish stocks and potentially disrupt nitrogen cycling processes,” it said.
“In SotB 2016, we reported that in Port Phillip Bay, an introduced sea star (Asterias amurensis) was outcompeting some bottom-dwelling fish for food, causing the populations of those fish to decline.”
The Commission said an important benefit of regular reporting was to revisit the issues and assess whether management actions were improving environmental outcomes over time.
