Cockrone Lagoon Aquatic Biological Survey-Final Report (PDF File ...

Australian Aquatic Biological Pty Ltd
Report Summary
Biological surveys were undertaken as part of both the broad Australian Craysh Project (ACP)
& Australian Aquatic Biological Survey (AABS) and a targeted sub-project on Gosford LGA
(Project #100056, Australian Aquatic Biological 2010). The main sponsors for this project were
Australian Aquatic Biological and Gosford City Council under their Ecological Research Grants
Program 2010 that was assisting with biological research projects for the whole Gosford LGA.
Surveys of the Gosford LGA are completed on a catchment/drainage basis and the area from
Copacabana to MacMasters Beach incorporating Cockrone Lagoon is the forth catchment area
surveyed completely as part of the broader Gosford LGA project.
The Cockrone Lagoon catchment was surveyed in late August and September 2010 and the ndings
are presented in this report. Surveys were conducted during mild spring conditions when all the
ephemeral creeks and swamps had some water in them.
Only low numbers of native sh species were recorded, as well as exotic Gambusia. No freshwater
craysh were found in the catchment. As expected no mussels or crabs were found within the
catchment. Both freshwater snails and shrimp were recorded from the catchment. Generally, the
riparian zones looked good, with low exotic terrestrial weeds and without litter or major exotic
aquatic weed infestations which was excellent news. Despite this aquatic biodiversity & population
densities within the upper catchment were exceptionally poor.
The full results of this aquatic biodiversity survey are presented in this report.
Key words: Cockrone Lagoon, Gambusia, amphipod, gudgeon, parrot’s feather
Figure 1. Cockrone Lagoon from Lakeside Drive
Cockrone Lagoon Catchment Aquatic Biodiversity Report 3