The Port Davey Marine Reserve has very high conservation values. The lack of human impact and presence in the area has facilitated the survival of many highly fragile, unique colonial invertebrates. The following information will assist you in ensuring that the unique values of this remarkable area remain intact.
Today, the number of vessels visiting the area is relatively low but is increasing, assisted by the advent of increasingly accurate chart information, Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS), modern vessels and organised cruises. It is difficult to accurately determine exact numbers of boat-based visitors to the area because of reliance on the completion of voluntary log books and radio contact records. It appears that the busiest time for boat-based visitors is just after the completion of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, in early January each year. Vessels using the area are mostly privately owned, and include fishing vessels, yachts, motorboats, dinghies, sea kayaks, and canoes. Cruise ships have been visiting the area since 1998, on average one vessel each year.
Management of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and the Port Davey Marine Reserve includes addressing visitation to the area by boaters. The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service has developed the following management guidelines for all visitors to the Port Davey Marine Reserve.
Diving
Diving in this area provides an opportunity to see marine life and communities that are not usually accessible to divers. For recreational divers, the most interesting and accessible dives are near Turnbull Island, commonly known as Sarah Island, at the western end of Bathurst Narrows.
Divers visiting this area should be aware of the Diving Code of Practice and must take care not to damage fragile marine life with careless fin kicks or stirring up sediment. Good buoyancy control is essential.
Strong currents often flow through the Bathurst Narrows and may make some dives difficult or impossible to do. These currents are hard to predict and seem to correspond more with passing weather systems and air pressure than tidal fluctuations.
Diving from a live boat (where the driver remains aboard and no anchor is used) is recommended due to the fragile nature of many bottom habitats.
Fishing
The Port Davey Marine Reserve has legal restrictions placed on fishing activities. The marine reserve has been divided into a Habitat Protection Zone and a Sanctuary Zone. In the Habitat Protection Zone restricted fishing is permitted, including limited forms of abalone, rock lobster and scalefish fishing. The Sanctuary Zone, encompassing four distinct areas including the Bathurst Harbour and Bathurst Channel, is exclusively a no take zone. This rule applies to all forms of marine fauna and flora.
Phytophthora (root rot)
People going ashore from boats have spread Phytophthora root rot - a plant disease - around Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour. At Schooner Cove, for example, there are many dying plants on the hills behind the beach. To minimise the spread of this disease please clean your footwear and any other items that may be soiled before going ashore anywhere in this area.
If you intend climbing Mt Rugby please use the well-marked track on the southern side of the mountain. Please do not climb from the Ila Bay side as this will increase the spread of the disease.
Fire
Wildfire poses the single greatest threat to this unique temperate area. Past fires have burnt vast areas of moorland, removing organic soils, and have destroyed ancient rainforest. Fires are not permitted anywhere within the TWWHA, including beaches. The area is a fuel stove only area.
Pets, firearms and chainsaws
Pets, firearms and chainsaws are not permitted in the Southwest National Park, or the Port Davey Marine Reserve.
Cultural heritage
Both Port Davey and Bathurst Harbour contain numerous Aboriginal and European historic sites of considerable significance. In past years many of these sites have been senselessly disturbed. Please avoid disturbing cultural heritage places.
Boating Guidelines
When boating in the area the following points should be addressed:
- Melaleuca Lagoon at the southern end of Melaleuca Inlet is closed to all vessels except PWS vessels and residential lessees' vessels.
- Navigation southwards into Melaleuca Inlet can be difficult for deep draft vessels during periods of low tide, high barometric pressure and low rainfall.
- All vessels over thirty five metres in length intending to enter the Port Davey Marine Reserve are required to carry a pilot or exempt Master, as Port Davey is under the control of Marine And Safety Tasmania (MAST).
- The only public boat access to Melaleuca is via the floating jetty – 500 metres up Melaleuca Creek from Melaleuca Inlet.
- To reduce the potential for bank erosion the following limits on motorised boats are imposed within the Port Davey Marine Reserve:
- Davey River: Motorised boating is not permitted upstream of longitude 145º 56.252'E GDA94 (the upstream end of the first gorge).
- Spring River: Motorised boating is not permitted upstream of longitude 146º 03.718'E GDA94 (the mouth of the Spring River in Manwoneer Inlet).
- North River: Motorised boating is not permitted north of the line joining Swan Point (43º 19.184'S, 146º 09.147'E GDA94) and the point west of Chink Point (43º 19.618'S, 146º 10.597'E) (the two headlands forming the entrance to North Inlet).
- Old River: Motorised boating is not permitted upstream of latitude 43º 18.761'S GDA94 (the upstream end of the island).
- The banks of all other enclosed waterways in the area are also sensitive to erosion. Boats used in these areas should travel near the centre of the waterway and proceed at low speeds at all times (generally less than 3–4 knots for dinghies). Aim to keep the hull as horizontal as possible. If the stern of the boat digs in, as happens just before most craft get onto the plane, damaging waves can be generated.
Anchorages
Fragile animals and plants such as sea pens, sponges and tubeworms inhabit the sea bed. In order to minimise the impact caused by vessels anchoring on the seafloor please anchor only in the recommended areas. These sites are all sheltered with good holding bottoms. By using these designated sites the impact of anchoring vessels on the unique marine organisms will be restricted.
Waste, bilge and sullage water
There is a very high risk of your vessel importing marine organisms and pests into the pristine waterways of the region. Similarly, the low nutrient levels of the waterways must be maintained to ensure the longevity of the unusual marine environment. To avoid introducing destructive species or altering nutrient levels, bilge water, food scraps, sullage or holding tank water should not be emptied into the Port Davey Marine Reserve. Due to the remoteness of the area all rubbish must be taken back home with you.
Introduced pests
Surprisingly, the Port Davey Marine Reserve has very few introduced marine pests, but these can be easily (and unintentionally) transferred from recreational and commercial vessels and fishing gear. The impact of marine pests (such as the New Zealand screw shell, and Northern Pacific Seastar) on this unique area would be devastating. Before visiting this area all vessel owners should clean anchors, ropes and vessel hulls to limit the introduction of such pests.
Mechanised damage, diving, boats and propellers
The steep gradients, narrow passages and large shallow areas present numerous navigational issues for vessels visiting the area. Such aspects need to be managed to prevent damage from vessel groundings and anchoring. Much of the unique benthic (bottom dwelling) community is sedentary, and like the stratified waters, soft sediments and halocline, it is prone to significant impact from vessels and divers.
Research into Cruise Ship Tourism
The increasing demand and popularity of ‘wilderness cruise tourism’ has brought about the need to protect the values of the area while allowing controlled access for tourist ship operations. The importance of accurately estimating the impacts of shipping on the sensitive benthic marine habitats was identified and with the financial support of the Sustainable Tourism Cooperative Research Centre (STCRC) research was undertaken in 2002-2003.
The document, Guidelines for the Preparation of Licences for Commercial Tourism Vessel Operations in Port Davey-Bathurst Harbour, by the Parks and Wildlife Service, seeks to manage the interests of tourism and provide protection for the World Heritage values of the area, which are sensitive to disturbance.