Cape Palmerston–Rocky Dam declared Fish Habitat Area

Location and plan number

• Ince Bay, 50km south-east of Mackay
• Plan number: FHA-048
• Mackay Regional Council

Management areas and size

Total size: 21,507 ha:

• 15,964 ha – Management A
• 5,543 ha – Management B.

Declaration history

• 20 November 1986: Original declaration.
• 22 May 2009: Redeclaration:
  • redeclared to combine with Rocky Dam.

Management features

• The Rocky Dam section (Management B) provides a wetlands buffer zone for the Cape Palmerston section (Management A).

Habitat values

• Extensive mangrove communities (Avicennia, Ceriops and Rhizophora).
• Intertidal flats and salt marsh areas along the Rocky Dam Creek estuary.
• Fringing inshore reef and seagrass beds in Ince Bay.
• Small portions of freshwater in Rocky Dam Creek.
• Large sandy bay that at low tide reveals estuarine sandbars and channels.
• Characterised by high tidal range.

Fisheries values

• Protection of commercial, recreational and Indigenous fishing grounds.
• Penaeid prawn habitat.
• Species:
  • Barramundi
  • Blue salmon
  • Bream
  • Estuary cod
  • Flathead
  • Grey mackerel
  • Grunter
  • Mangrove jack
  • Queenfish
  • Sea mullet
  • School mackerel
  • Whiting
  • Banana prawns
  • Oysters
  • Mud crabs.

Unique features

• Lies within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the Ince Bay Dugong Protection Area.

Other values

• Dugong habitat in Ince Bay.