Spencer Gulf

The Spencer Gulf Ecosystem and Development Initiative aims to provide all stakeholders with access to independent and credible information about Spencer Gulf and opportunities to develop it without compromising its environment.

The Spencer Gulf is a rare reverse estuary whose salt levels is lowest at its mouth and which is situated at the confluence of the Indian, Southern & Pacific oceans. It provides a nursery to much of South Australia's fish species and is an area of high and unique biodiversity.

South Australia's growing mining sector is likely to increase shipping impacts, wharf facilities, potential dredging, and desalination of sea water in the Spencer Gulf. The industry, people around the gulf (and throughout South Australia and beyond) are keen to see this carefully managed. The Spencer Gulf program aims to do this by developing the science and understanding for world class decision making while maintaining the Gulf's unique ecosystem.

An independent and credible decision support system is being created to enable evidence-based assessment of development options with full consideration of social and economic benefits and cumulative environmental implications in a rapidly developing region.

The opportunity is to use such evidence so that we enable development without the associated environmental damage that usually occurs from cumulative impacts.
The initiative should allow:

1. Informed understanding of the whole system allows for evidence based decision making. This enables:
   • The protection & enhancement of a healthy Spencer Gulf region
   • Productive & informed relationships between project developers and the community
   • Potential synergies and cross government engagement
   • Economic development at less cost to everyone
2. Understanding the whole system creates the opportunity for:
   • Ecologically sustainable development thereby reducing risk and avoiding costly restoration
   • Co-operative outcomes from reduction of conflict among resource users competing for access
   • Protects a wide diversity of cross sector economic development and innovation
   • A strategic approach to infrastructure investments that accounts for cumulative impacts
3. Project development without environmental compromise
   • Efficient and accelerated project approvals and reduced preparation costs
   • Expansion of aquaculture & sustainable fishing & other industries
   • Strong, vibrant and productive communities
4. Stakeholders share in the co-creation of a world class approach to caring for the marine environment and enabling development

The initiative is supported by major energy, mining, infrastructure, industry and fishing interests. This includes the Fisheries Research Development Corporation. The initiative will first summarise existing knowledge and the key gaps, demands and drivers for change. Phase 2 sees the research, science and work done to allow for dissemination of knowledge and careful assessment of cumulative impacts.

Listen to Marine Biology Program Director, Professor Bronwyn Gillanders, talk about the Spencer Gulf Project: