The Pacific Adventurer oil spill and two freshwater wetlands on Moreton Island, south east Queensland: Effects and rehabilitation

Abstract

On 11 March 2009, damage to a large container ship, 'Pacific Adventurer', caused by dislodged shipping containers during Cyclone Hamish (Category 5 cyclone) resulted in the loss of a large quantity of heavy fuel oil into the ocean. In addition to beach, reef and mangrove habitats, the resultant oil slick affected two coastal wetlands on the northern end of Moreton Island. The two wetlands, Spitfire and South Eagers Creeks, were impacted by the oil spill when strong winds and associated large waves and rough seas carried oil over the beach and into the predominantly freshwater habitats. The oil affected large expanses of vegetation and a significant amount of oil sank to the bottom of wetland channels. These wetlands have important cultural value to the indigenous owners of the island and they also provide habitat for a number of threatened flora and fauna. This was accounted for during the clean-up and rehabilitation of the wetlands where a multidisciplinary team of scientists, operational staff from responsible government agencies and trainee rangers from the indigenous owners of the island (The Quandamooka people) implemented the clean-up plan. The cleanup and rehabilitation of Spitfire and South Eagers Creek Wetlands was highly successful, and through a balance of intervention and natural processes, the wetland has returned after 18 months to a level of health satisfactory to Traditional Owners. The cleanup projects integrated indigenous knowledge with contemporary scientific information and facilitated stronger relationships, greater trust and knowledge sharing between indigenous elders, trainee rangers, scientists and managers.