Annan River declared Fish Habitat Area

Location and plan number

  • Parts of Annan River and Walker Bay, near the southern edge of Cooktown
  • Plan number: FHA-049
  • Cook Shire Council

Size and management level

Total size: 1,753 ha:

  • 875 ha – Management A
  • 878 ha – Management B.

Declaration history

  • 19 December 2003: Original declaration.

Management features

  • Protection of valuable commercial, recreational and Indigenous fisheries resources.
  • Management of diverse habitats in near-pristine condition near the township of Cooktown.

Habitat values

  • Approximately 15km of pristine freshwater habitats, including riffles and pools
  • Estuarine waters
  • Mangrove forests—at least 11 mangrove species (dominated by Rhizophora and Ceriops)
  • Salt couch flats
  • Sand and mud flats
  • Rock bars
  • Seagrass beds
  • Coral reefs
  • Rocky headlands.

Fisheries values

  • Commercial, recreational and Indigenous subsistence fishing.
  • Species:
    • Barramundi
    • Mangrove jack
    • Estuary cod
    • Flathead
    • Jungle perch
    • Sooty grunter
    • Trevally
    • Queenfish
    • Grunter
    • Threadfin salmon
    • Garfish
    • Mud crabs
    • 3 species of freshwater mussel
    • Mackerel
    • Reef fish.

Unique features

  • Lies within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Other values

  • Considered critically important to the Yuku Baja Muliku people, who have had a connection to this location for generations.

References

  • Sheppard, R and Helmke, S A 1999, A fisheries resource assessment of the Annan River, North Queensland, DPI Information Series QI99043.
  • Chin, A, Hale, L, Klunzinge, M and Gerhardt, K 2016, 'Freshwater mussel surveys from the Annan River: Yuku Baja Muliku Country – project findings', Research Gate.