Tasmanian Giant Kelp Forest Survey with Harvest Estimates, 1986

A 1986 aerial survey of the east Tasmanian coastline from Musselroe Bay to South East Cape mapped 10 km² of Macrocystis pyrifera kelp forest. The data, managed by the Australian Ocean Data Network, estimates a harvestable yield of 12,300 tonnes based on historical company records from 1965-1972. Weight per unit area was also estimated from quadrats harvested at several coastal sites.

Use Cases

• Model historical kelp forest biomass based on the reported 10 km² coverage and yield estimates.
• Analyze spatial distribution of Macrocystis pyrifera beds along the Tasmanian east coast.
• Study fluctuations in harvestable kelp quantities in relation to factors like ocean temperature and storm damage mentioned in the description.
• Compare historical (1965-1972) and 1986 harvest yield estimates for resource management planning.

Strengths

• Provides a concrete total area of kelp forest mapped: 10 km².
• Includes a specific historical harvest yield estimate: 12,300 tonnes available in 1986.
• References a multi-year historical baseline from company records spanning 1965-1972.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Data freshness should be verified; the last metadata update is listed as 2026-06-16.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Aerial survey from a light aeroplane, with bed outlines digitized using Mapinfo on 1:100,000 maps. Quadrat harvesting at selected sites.

Time Range

Survey conducted in 1986, with historical records referenced from 1965-1972.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-06-16 19:34:07.791718; freshness should be verified

Geography

East coast of Tasmania, from Musselroe Bay to South East Cape.