Keep Our Bay Clean
Blue green Lyngbya majuscula blooms pose a serious threat to Roebuck Bay as they form thick anaerobic mats over seagrass. Anglers say that threadfin salmon avoid waters where Lyngbya is blooming and dugongs avoid feeding on affected seagrass. Lyngbya blooms impact mud invertebrates that are food for hungry shorebirds who migrate to the bay from the northern hemisphere every year. For humans, Lyngbya can cause rashes and breathing difficulties if touched.
Lyngbya blooms are linked to runoff and polluted groundwater. Pollutants such as wastewater, fertiliser, garden waste, chemicals, litter, animal faeces,detergents and pool water enter Roebuck Bay directly through our stormwater drains during rain. Similarly, fertiliser and sewage enter the Bay indirectly, leaching through soil into groundwater that flows into Roebuck Bay and Cable Beach.
These nutrients help Lyngbya grow and spread.
KEEP OUR BAY CLEAN
Reducing nutrients & Lyngbya in Roebuck Bay
RBWG works hard to to reduce nutrients in Roebuck Bay:
- Lyngbya Forums 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014
- Lyngbya Contingency Plan developed 2009
- Lyngbya monitoring on seagrass meadows
- Displays and talks to schools and community
- Bookmarks with Keep Bay Clean tips
- Fridge magnets with Keep Our Bay clean tips
- Fertilise Wise brochure
- Wash Cars the Roebuck Bay Friendly Way cards
- Gardening the Roebuck Bay Friendly Way events
- Drain Plant List of species that absorb nutrients
- Three films on Lyngbya and Roebuck Bay’s values
- Regular stories in Broome Advertiser, Particle
- Five post graduate studies on nutrients and Lyngbya
- How to Coastal Garden cards
- Footpath stencilling with Keep Our Bay Clean logo
- Web learning program on Lyngbya
- McMahon walkway planting project, film, magnets:
- Bushtucker trail heals community and bay »
Our partners work proactively too. Broome North (LandCorp) created a stormwater basin (planted with natives), Broome Shire widened and planted out the Anne St Drain, Parks and Wildlife monitor Lyngbya and three studies to determine the cause of Lyngbya blooms in the Bay, and Environs Kimberley expanded seagrass monitoring to include Lyngbya.
HERE’S HOW YOU CAN HELP…
The Keep Our Bay Clean project is sponsored by
