The Port Davey - Bathurst Harbour marine environment 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 entering 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 Marine Protected Area includes addressing visitation to the area by boats. The Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service has developed the following management guidelines for all visitors to Port Davey - Bathurst Harbour.
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 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 stirred up sediment. Good buoyancy control is essential.
Occasionally, strong currents 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 that tidal exchange.
Diving from a live boat is recommended due to the fragile nature of many bottom habitats, and may also increase safety if strong current develop.
Fishing
As a MPA the Port Davey - Bathurst Harbour area has legal restrictions placed on fishing activities. The MPA has been divided into a Habitat Protection Zone and a Sanctuary Zone. A Habitat Protection Zone allows low impact fishing practises such as collecting abalone, rock lobster and scale fishing. The Sanctuary Zone, encompassing the Bathurst Harbour and Bathurst Channel, is exclusively a no take zone, applying to both marine fauna and flora of Port Davey - Bathurst Harbour.
Phytophthora (root rot)
People going ashore from boats have spread Phytophthora - a plant disease - around Port Davey - Bathurst Harbour. At Schooner Cove there are many dying plants on the hills behind the beach. To minimise the spread of this disease please clean your footwear (in salty water) 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 and firearms
Pets and firearms are not permitted in the Southwest National Park, please do not take them ashore.
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 is shallow, and is navigable by dinghies and small vessels only. Entry into Melaleuca Lagoon must be authorised by the Parks and Wildlife Service (see a contact list of Parks and Wildlife offices)
- Navigation up the 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 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.
- To reduce the potential for bank erosion the following limits on motorised boats are imposed within the Port Davey – Bathurst Harbour area:
- Davey River: Motorised boating is not permitted upstream of Grid Reference 55GDN135217 (the upstream end of the gorge).
- Spring River: Motorised boating is not permitted upstream of Grid Reference 55GDN238055 (the mouth of the Spring River in Manwoneer Inlet).
- North River: Motorised boating is not permitted north of the line joining Grid Reference 55GDN312032 and Grid Reference 55GDN331024 (the two headlands forming the entrance to North Inlet).
- Old River: Motorised boating is not permitted upstream of Grid Reference 55GDN386040 (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 river and proceed at very 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 to the sea floor 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 must not be emptied into the Port Davey - Bathurst Harbour area. Due to the remoteness of the area, there is no rubbish collection service and all rubbish must be carried out.
Introduced pests
Surprisingly, the Port Davey - Bathurst Harbour area 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 vessels 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, anchors and waste removal. Much of the unique benthic community is sedentary, and like the stratified waters, soft sediments and halocline is prone to significant impact from boats, divers and nets.
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 tourism 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 Area, where the marine conservation values are high and the area is sensitive to disturbance.