PORT PHILLIP BAY

Seagrass meadows

Seagrasses are among the few species of flowering plants that occur in marine environments. Like their land relatives, they also reproduce by seeds, but these are not easily seen. Cutting through a stem of seagrass will reveal sections of tubular vessels which carry fluids and nutrients. Seaweeds lack these internal structures. Seven seagrass species are known from Victorian waters, occurring on sandy or muddy sediments in shallow bays and estuaries, they form grass-like meadows. Young fish and other small species shelter in the leafy blades of these meadows.

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Seagrass meadows

In the sheltered areas out of the current, you get fantastic seagrass and seaweed meadows. Now these meadows are homes to all sorts of creatures, lots of little invertebrates and fish, and the juveniles are a lot of the fish that are popular with fishermen. Swan Bay’s an area like this and it has all sorts of amazing creatures.