Temple Bay declared Fish Habitat Area

Location and plan number

• 420 km north of Cooktown, between the Olive River and Mosquito Point, Temple Bay, east Cape York Peninsula
• Plan number: FHA-058
• Cook Shire Council

Size and management level

• 18,995 ha Management A

Declaration history

• 19 November 1983:
  • original declaration
• 1 July 2010 redeclaration:
  • to cadastral boundaries and to extend seaward

Management features

• Department of Primary Industries survey stations in Glennie and Hunter inlets supported the original declaration
• Seaward boundary aligned with trawl closure boundary in 2010
• Adjoins Margaret Bay (Wuthathi) Fish Habitat Area

Habitat values

• Extensive closed mangrove communities (Rhizophora and Ceriops) within Temple Bay
• Some saltpans and sparse seagrass beds

Fisheries values

• Protection of commercial prawn and fish habitat, including barramundi habitat
• Recreational and Indigenous fishing grounds
• Species:
  • Barramundi
  • Blue salmon
  • Grey mackerel
  • Queenfish
  • Grunter
  • Mangrove jack
  • Estuary cod
  • Endeavour prawns
  • Tiger prawns

Unique features

• The uncommon trumpet tree mangrove (Dolichandrone spathacea) is found here
• Lies within and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area

Other values

• None presently identified