| Princess Charlotte | |
|---|---|
 2007 image from NASA'sTerra satellite showing plumes of sediment flowing into the bay | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Australia |
| State | Queensland |
| Region | Far North Queensland |
| District | Shire of Cook |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 61 km (38 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Normanby River, Bizant River, North Kennedy River, Marrett River |
Princess Charlotte Bay is a large bay on the east coast ofFar North Queensland at the base ofCape York Peninsula, 350 km north northwest ofCairns. Princess Charlotte Bay is a part of theGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park and it is a habitat for thedugong.
Reefs in the bay are described as pristine.[1] Barramundi habitat and associated wetlands exist in declared green zones which restrictcommercial fishing.
The bay is in the traditional lands of theBakanambia and Jeteneru people.[2] The bay was named afterPrincess Charlotte of Wales by Lieutenant Charles Jeffreys of the BritishRoyal Navy in 1815.[3][4]
Princess Charlotte Bay and surrounds were devastated by theMahina Cyclone of 1899 which destroyed all 100 ships moored there at the time.[5] Other estimates suggest a lower figure of 82 boats destroyed.[2] On the 4 March 1899, the entire North Queensland pearling fleet was in the bay where they regularly collected supplies and unloaded shells. Around 100 Aboriginals who were assisting survivors ashore and 307 men from the pearling fleet were drowned in Queensland's worst maritime disaster.[2]
The most easterly point of the bay isCape Melville. Also in this area isFlinders Island, part of theFlinders Group. The bay's most westerly point is Claremont Point.[3]
Normanby, Bizant, North Kennedy, Marrett andMorehead rivers terminate in the bay. Marine fossils and old beach ridges have been discovered well inland along the river systems. This indicates the bay has been experiencing a gradualinfilling.[2]
Duringspring tides salt water inundates low areas for several kilometres inland.[2] Mixedmangrove forests predominate in tidal areas. The adjacentwetlands are one of the largest in Australia.[6] Extensive areas ofseagrass beds exist on the bay's seafloor. There are also large areas of tidal flats covered in sand and mud.[6]
Protected areas around the bay includeMarpa National Park,Rinyirru National Park andCape Melville National Park. The best boat access to Princess Charlotte Bay is from the Bizant boat ramp which is 20 km from Bizant.[7]
TheBizant river shark is a rare species of fresh or brackish water shark. More common marine species found in the bay includebarramundi,blue salmon,grey mackerel,queenfish,grunter,mangrove jack,tiger prawn andmud crab.[6]
Both Princess Charlotte and nearbyBathurst Bay have some of the highest densities of dugong in Queensland.[8] A Special Management area has been established in Princess Charlotte Bay.[9] It aims to protect the dugong from commercial net fishers by limiting the number of fishing permit holders.
{{cite web}}:|archive-url= is malformed: timestamp (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)