Mosman’s Cobblers Beach has become the first location in Sydney Harbour to host a site for the restoration of endangered seagrass.
In a partnership between Mosman Council and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), underwater plots of Posidonia australis seagrass have been planted at Cobblers Beach to support marine life, including seahorses.
Seagrass fragments, some of which were collected by community members after being washed up after storms, were harvested at the SIMS headquarters in Chowder Bay.
Council’s Environment Coordinator and marine scientist Dr Paloma Matis said restoring Posidonia was key to enhancing the health of Mosman’s marine environment.
“This seagrass has largely disappeared from Sydney waterways due to coastal development, pollution and damage from sources such as boat anchors,” she said.
“It plays such an important role, providing a vital habitat to fish and other marine creatures.”
“It is also important for climate change mitigation and resilience through carbon sequestration and shoreline stabilisation”
Dr Matis said the community played an important role in the early stages of the project and would continue to do so.
“We had residents, schools and other community organisations get behind this project in its early stages, helping collect samples, creating educational art displays and taking an interest in the marine environment that is so highly valued here in Mosman,” she said.