Coasts & Estuaries - City of Port Adelaide Enfield - SA.Gov.au

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Coast & EstuariesPressure Indicator: Caulerpa taxifolia growth in the Port Adelaide River/Barker InletThere have been four broad-scale surveys of the Port Adelaide River/Barker Inlet region since thediscovery of C.taxifolia The first in March – April 2002 included the upper Port Adelaide River.Following surveys excluded this area and were undertaken in February 2003, June 2003 andFebruary-April 2004.Three outbreaks were documented over the survey periods, refer to Figure 28 (A,B,C). SARDIindicate that there is a correlation between these outbreaks and the activities of recreational fishers,and that these infestations are likely to be the result of fragments of C.taxifolia being transported onfishing equipment.Further large scale follow up surveys of the Port Adelaide River/Barker Inlet are highly recommendedto ensure that small ongoing pockets of plants remain contained and that other outbreaks can beidentified.Figure 28: The junctions between the Port Adelaide River, Barker Inlet, Angus Inlet and North Armshowing the location of the Caulerpa taxifolia outbreaksAlgal blooms – red tidePhytoplankton blooms commonly known as ‘red tides’, are a common occurrence in the Port AdelaideRiver estuary. Aside from presenting possible health risks, major ecological problems can result, suchas dense microalgae causing oxygen depletion in the water column and consequent death of fish andinvertebrate fauna (Cannon, 1991).148
Coast & EstuariesWithin the Port Adelaide River large quantities of bioavailable nutrients support the development ofthe bloom.ToxicantsThe State of Environment 2000 referred to a toxicological study undertaken by the Australian DolphinResearch Foundation in 1998 to determine if polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) were present inmussels and fish taken from the Port Adelaide River. The report findings (Bossley and Burzacott1999) failed to detect PCBs in any of the mussel samples, however did find low levels of PCBs in oneof the five fish sampled. At the time of the study two bottlenose dolphins were found dead and wereincluded in the study. Blubber samples were analysed, the younger dolphin was found to have highPCB levels (5-6mg/kg and the older dolphin low levels (less than 1mg/kg). A liver sample from theyounger dolphin was tested for mercury with a level 465mg/kg found. In a subsequent media releaseit was stated that “an Adelaide dolphin has been found to have the highest level of mercurycontamination ever recorded in a bottlenose dolphin anywhere in the world” (Bossley 1999).Following on from this study a survey on the Port Adelaide River by the EPA was conducted in 2000,monitoring of heavy metals and PCBs in dolphins, sediment and fish. Analysis of tissue samples fromdolphins is a useful means of determining whether accumulative toxicants including heavy metals,such as mercury and cadmium, and chlorinated organics compounds such as PCBs, are present insignificant amounts in the environment. Analysis of Port Adelaide River dolphins which have spent asubstantial proportion of their life on the estuary can indicate the presence of localised pollutionproblems.Tissue samples were analysed from 15 bottlenose dolphins, liver tissue tested for mercury, kidneytested for cadmium and blubber tested for PCBs. Sediment samples were taken from 26 sites in andaround the estuary, samples were analysed for heavy metals and PCBs. Fish were caught from thePort Adelaide River and tested for mercury, cadmium and lead to determine if they complied with theFood Standards Code.State Indicator: Results of monitoring of Heavy Metals and PCB’s in Dolphins, Sediments andFish of the Port Adelaide River.Dolphins• PCB levels in blubber samples from dolphins found in the vicinity of the Port Adelaide Riverwere substantially higher than dolphins at other sites around the state.• Mercury levels found in liver samples from Port Adelaide River dolphins were not unusualwhen compared to State, and cadmium levels were lower.Sediment• 17 of the 26 sites sampled had high lead and zinc concentrations, the source likely to be roadrunoff and historic industrial waste disposal to the Port Adelaide River).• Copper was found in high levels at five sites and nickel at one site, these sites were adjacentto ship or boat building/repair activities.• Elevated levels of mercury were found in 5 sites.Fish• Levels of mercury, cadmium and lead tested in fish caught from the Port Adelaide River metthe food standards and were safe to eat.(source: http://www.epa.sa.gov.au/pdfs/dolphin.pdf)In response to these findings the EPA has undertaken an audit of industries in the area in order tolocate the source of PCB and mercury pollution, investigate ways of reducing these toxics from149
Page 1 and 2: City of Port Adelaide EnfieldState
Page 3 and 4: Coast & EstuariesBarker Inlet & Por
Page 5 and 6: Coast & EstuariesWater QualityThe w
Page 7 and 8: Coast & EstuariesFigure 22: Port Ad
Page 9 and 10: Coast & EstuariesNutrient loads - N
Page 11 and 12: Coast & EstuariesState Indicator: R
Page 13 and 14: Coast & EstuariesPressure Indicator
Page 15 and 16: Coast & EstuariesFigure 25: Caulerp
Page 17: Coast & EstuariesFigure 26: Map of
Page 21 and 22: Coast & EstuariesA working PortThe
Page 23 and 24: Coast & EstuariesGulf St Vincent &
Page 26 and 27: Coast & EstuariesFigure 27: Map of
Page 28 and 29: Coast & EstuariesOne of the major i
Page 30 and 31: Coast & EstuariesTable 31: Amount o
Page 32 and 33: Coast & EstuariesReferencesACWS Tec
Page 34 and 35: Figure 28: Port Adelaide River-Bark

Coasts & Estuaries - City of Port Adelaide Enfield - SA.Gov.au

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