Divers have begun seeing signs of new life across the Port's decimated underwater habitat.
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Record rainfall and flooding in March stripped the reefs and shallows around Nelson Bay of kelp, seagrass and sponges and pushed already struggling species of soft corals and marine animals such as the White's Seahorse even further to the brink of extinction.
Port Stephens marine scientist Meryl Larkin, who after the flooding described the destruction as being like an "underwater bushfire", reported that baby kelp, or recruits, of Ecklonia radiata had begun appearing in the shallows around the Bay early in August.
"Hopefully conditions will allow these recruits to thrive and completely rebuild this very important habitat," Ms Larkin said.
"Ecklonia radiata is found throughout the temperate waters of Australia, and plays a very important ecological function in the Bay - particularly in the shallow areas of our reefs.
"Many organisms rely on kelp to survive - including molluscs, crustaceans, and fish. The flood impacted most of the reef habitat in the shallows of the bay - including seagrass, soft corals, kelp, and other filter feeders like sponges and ascidians.
"Without kelp in the shallows, many animals were without the shelter and food they require. The impacts on the kelp would have caused an interruption to the whole food chain. Seeing that this habitat has now been absent for almost six months since the flood, these babies are just the start of a long recovery for these reefs."
Kelp recruits start with one small frond on a stipe - a leaf and stem on plant - and grow from there.
Much like the bright green sprouts of new plant growth on land, kelp recruits are bright but golden. Each golden frond has the potential to turn into a large and thriving plant-like organism.
Ms Larkin, from Medowie, is the PhD researcher on a Southern Cross University and NSW Department of Primary Industries study exploring the decline in the endangered purple cauliflower soft coral Dendronephthya australis.
As part of her research she regularly dives the waters around Nelson Bay.
During her dives in August, Ms Larkin said she had begun seeing kelp recruits and critters around Fly Point which was positive sign that the ecosystem was on the mend.
"We have started seeing more abundant critters during our dives including fish and molluscs, though some habitats are still very much in shock," she said.
"Seeing the quirky weedfish at our sites again is another sign that the broader ecosystem is recovering. They are a fish most people probably haven't heard of. They mimic kelp to help with their camouflage. They feed on crustaceans and small fish in this habitat. The fact that we're finding them again is a good sign."
A golden weedfish in kelp off Little Beach:
The few hundred soft coral Dendronephthya australis colonies that survived the March flood have just started to look healthy again, Ms Larkin said.
"They appeared to be very stressed for months afterwards. At this stage, we haven't seen any colonies returning to the areas where they disappeared. Corals, seagrasses, and some other filter feeders that were affected by the flood are much slower-growing than kelp, so we expect it may take quite a while to see these recover to their pre-flood health," she said.
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