Marine Plants
Extensive mangrove communities and seagrass meadows on and adjacent to port land provide food and habitat for many species, including dugong and sea turtles, as well as functioning to recycle nutrients, trap sediments and stabilise the sea bed and coastline.
PBPL undertake triennial surveys of these mangrove and seagrass communities so as to identify the long term health and changes in these ecosystems.
We also support the Mangrove Watch and Seagrass Watch programs, which are community-based monitoring programs established in Moreton Bay by the Queensland Wildlife
Preservation Society.
PBPL works with local councils and developers in South-East Queensland to provide mangrove seedlings, which are removed from stormwater drains on port land, for restoration projects.
Shorebirds
Moreton Bay features a number of wetlands which are protected under the RAMSAR convention and provide habitat to migratory shorebirds that are protected by the Japan Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA) and the China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA).
PBPL has partnered with the Queensland Wader Study Group (QWSG) to carry out monthly shorebird counts at shorebird habitats on and adjacent to the port. Data from this monitoring program is collected with data from around Queensland and Australia to provide a greater understanding of migratory shorebirds.
To enhance the availability of shorebird roosting habitats in the region, PBPL constructed a 12 hectare permanent shorebird roost. It is the largest constructed shorebird roost in eastern Australia and provides habitat for up to 15,000 migratory and resident shorebirds every year.
The roost can be accessed for shorebird watching on weekdays through our Visitors Centre.
Weed Surveys
PBPL conducts annual weed surveys developed in conjunction with the Australian Quarantine & Inspection Services (AQIS).
Findings from the surveys are incorporated into our plant maintenance program and also provided to AQIS to assist in the management of risks associated with introduced species at the port.