Seagrass

The intertidal and shallow sub tidal waters of Hinchinbrook are an ideal habitat for seagrass meadows. Seagrasses stabilize the mudflats and help maintain the productivity of coastal waters. They are an essential food source for dugongs and sea turtles and an important habitat for the juveniles of a number of prawn and fish species. This region is one of the most diverse for Queensland seagrasses (at least 10 species are present), nearly 75% of all known Queensland species. There have been some losses of seagrass following cyclone Yasi in 2011 but the meadows are slowing recovering.