Half-price seagrass friendly moorings for Lake Macquarie

Boat owners in Lake Macquarie are encouraged to help protect our valuable marine life by switching to environmentally friendly moorings.

Boaters around the world are upgrading their moorings to more environmentally friendly options to protect endangered fish habitats and Hunter Local Land Services is providing Lake Macquarie boaters an opportunity to get on board.

"Hundreds of boat owners around Australia have already converted to these innovative new mooring designs. An exciting new project will give Lake Macquarie boat owners added incentive to be part of this wave of change," said Hunter Local Land Services Officer Brian Hughes.

"Hunter Local Land Services is offering a 50 per cent rebate to support mooring holders in Lake Macquarie to upgrade their conventional block and chain moorings to more environmentally friendly designs," Mr Hughes said.

The rebates are being offered to assist boat owners to protect seagrass habitat in Lake Macquarie, which is apparently under threat from conventional moorings. Seagrass helps maintain water quality and also provides food and habitat for fish, crustaceans and iconic species such as seahorses and threatened sea turtles.

Invented by Port Stephens resident Des Maslen, the Seagrass Friendly Mooring includes a helix anchor with tremendous hold and an innovative shock absorber that safely secures the vessel while preventing mooring tackle touching the seabed.

Boat owners can learn more about both the Seagrass Friendly Mooring and Eco Mooring offered in the upgrade program at two upcoming events to be held in Belmont next month:

>> Mooring demonstration with Des Maslen
Tuesday, 8 March 2016
11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Belmont Reserve (opposite Roberts Street)

>> Information session
Tuesday, 8 March 2016
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Belmont 16 Foot Sailing Club

"Hunter Local Land Services has trialled the use of environmentally friendly moorings in Port Stephens and the results have been very positive," Mr Hughes said.

"In 2008, a number of block and chain moorings were removed in Shoal Bay and were replaced by Seagrass Friendly Moorings in the same location. Five of these sites were monitored by marine scientists and they found that seagrass had re-established in damaged areas within two years.

"Hunter Local Land Services has trialled the use of environmentally friendly moorings in Port Stephens and the results have been very positive,” Mr Hughes said.

The Lake Macquarie Environmentally Friendly Mooring Upgrade Program is supported by Hunter Local Land Services through funding from the Recreational Fishing Trust Habitat Action Grants.

Bookings for the mooring demonstration and/or information session can be made by contacting Brian Hughes on (02) 6551 8994 (ext 222).

Further information is available on the Hunter Local Land Services website at www.hunter.lls.nsw.gov.au.

Caption: Lake Macquarie moorings taken by Rosie and sent in to NBN.