Seagrass meadows of the Gulf of Carpentaria support dugong, green turtles, and fisheries of cultural and economic importance, yet their distribution along the Queensland coastline remains poorly resolved. Existing data were sparse, coarse, and often outdated, limiting the capacity to assess change and inform management of these habitats within Sea Country.
This study presents the first large-scale, co-designed mapping of coastal seagrass habitats across ~500 km of the southern Gulf coastline, led by Gangalidda-Garawa Rangers, Normanton Rangers, and scientists. Intertidal habitats were mapped using helicopter surveys, while subtidal habitats in the Kurtijar Indigenous Protected Area were assessed using drop cameras. Extensive intertidal meadows were recorded northwest of Burketown, with clear evidence of dugong feeding, consistent with Traditional Owner knowledge of key foraging areas. In contrast, eastern areas near Karumba supported smaller, fragmented meadows to 14m depth, likely reflecting recent high rainfall and flooding. Drone-based monitoring programs were established to support ranger-led, long-term observation.
This work fills critical knowledge gaps on habitat distribution and connectivity across the Gulf, improving understanding of movement pathways for culturally important migratory species and strengthening the evidence base for Sea Country planning.