Protected Marine Species of the Gorgon Gas Development EIS/ERMP-Technical appendix C6

In order to assist with the assessment of the environmental implications of this venture, ChevronTexaco engaged RPS Bowman Bishaw Gorham to conduct a literature review of protected marine species occurring within the proposed development area. This report describes the results of the literature review, combined with opportunistic field observations recorded as part of the marine ecological surveys.

More than one hundred protected marine species have been identified as occurring, or likely to occur, in the waters surrounding Barrow Island.

Protected fish and invertebrate species are known, or likely, to occur in both the nearshore and offshore waters surrounding Barrow Island. The habitats which they occupy are generally widespread throughout the Pilbara region. There are no known features in the proposed development area or surrounds to suggest that significant concentrations would be expected to occur.

Humpback whales generally are likely to rest occasionally around Flacourt Bay and Double Island (sighted on occasions) and pass through the region seaward of Barrow Island on their annual migration between the Southern Ocean and the Kimberley. Their northern migration is broadly centered on the 200 m bathymetric contour, and they are likely to pass through the area around the Gorgon gas field.

The southern migration of adults and calves tends to be more inshore and some use inshore areas such as the area near Flacourt Bay and Double Island to rest. Other whales and deep water dolphins that occur off the northwestern Australian coast that may occur in the survey area tend to have widely dispersed populations and there are no known features in the survey area or surrounds that suggest that significant concentrations would be expected within the development area.

Barrow Island is an important feeding and nesting area for sea turtles, primarily flatback turtles on the east coast and green turtles on the west coast.

KEYWORKS: Gorgon Gas Development, Barrow Island, EIS/ERMP, Protected Marine Species, EPBC Act, marine mammals, fish, turtles

为协助评估本项目的环境影响，雪佛龙德士古（ChevronTexaco）委托RPS鲍曼·比肖·戈勒姆（RPS Bowman Bishaw Gorham）对拟议开发区域内的受保护海洋物种开展文献调研。本报告阐述了此次文献调研的成果，并结合本次海洋生态调查中记录的偶见实地观测结果进行综合呈现。

目前已确认，巴罗岛（Barrow Island）周边海域存在或极有可能栖息着超过100种受保护海洋物种。

已知或极有可能在巴罗岛周边近岸与远海水域出现受保护鱼类及无脊椎动物物种，其栖息生境普遍分布于皮尔巴拉（Pilbara）区域全境。目前未发现拟议开发区域及周边存在可导致该类物种形成显著聚集的已知特征。

座头鲸通常会偶尔在弗拉库特湾（Flacourt Bay）与双岛（Double Island）附近休憩（已有目击记录），并在每年往返南大洋与金伯利（Kimberley）地区的迁徙途中途经巴罗岛外侧海域。其北向迁徙大致以200米水深等深线为核心分布带，极有可能途经高更天然气田（Gorgon gas field）周边区域。

成年座头鲸及幼鲸的南向迁徙更偏向近岸航线，部分个体将弗拉库特湾与双岛附近等近岸区域作为休憩地。其他可能出现在本次调查区域的澳大利亚西北海域原生鲸类与深水海豚种群分布较为分散，目前未发现调查区域及周边存在可导致该类物种在开发区域内形成显著聚集的已知特征。

巴罗岛是海龟重要的觅食与筑巢区域，其中东海岸以平背海龟为主，西海岸则以绿海龟为主。

关键词：高更天然气开发项目（Gorgon Gas Development）、巴罗岛（Barrow Island）、环境影响评价（Environmental Impact Statement, EIS）/环境资源管理计划（Environmental Resource Management Plan, ERMP）、受保护海洋物种、《环境保护与生物多样性保护法》（Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, EPBC Act）、海洋哺乳动物、鱼类、海龟