Gamay (Botany Bay)

rich in history and biodiversity


A bay with a long history and
high ecological and cultural significance

Gamay (or Botany Bay) in south-east Sydney was the first landing place of European explorers in Australia in 1700. The bay has undergone much development since colonisation and today houses Australia’s largest city, international airport and international shipping port.

Yet, hidden under the surface of Gamay’s waters is a highly diverse marine ecosystem that has provided resources and been cared for by First Nations people of Gamay for tens of thousands of years. Habitats such as sandy beaches, wetlands, oyster reefs, rocky reefs, mangroves and seagrass meadows are found throughout the bay and support incredible biodiversity - more than 270 fish, 800 mollusc and 580 crustacean species have been recorded here.

Posidonia australis seagrass meadows in Gamay are critical habitat for a range of recreationally and culturally important species such as blue swimmer crabs, mullet, snapper, flathead and octopus as well as charismatic species like seahorses, pipefishes and cuttlefish.

Caring for Gamay Sea Country

The cultural connection and care for Sea Country continues in Gamay today through the Gamay Rangers, an Indigenous Ranger group based in La Perouse.

Through activities like water patrols, marine mammal awareness and protection, cultural heritage protection and conservation, threatened species management, cultural and environmental awareness and visitor experiences, the Gamay Rangers are ensuring the diverse ecosystems found in Gamay are sustained for future generations.

These activities support the Gamay Sea Country Plan, the first ever sea country plan developed for a major Australian city.

Learn more about he Gamay Rangers here.

Working together to restore Posidonia in Gamay

Operation Posidonia and the Gamay
Rangers have partnered to help revive
Posidonia meadows in Gamay

Human activities over the past 150 years have resulted in the loss of about 50% of Posidonia in Gamay, with meadows disappearing from entire sections of the bay. The decline has been so dramatic that Gamay is home to one of six endangered populations of Posidonia on Australia’s east coast.

But, by working together we are mending damaged Posidonia meadows to bring back this habitat and its associated species - such as the endangered White’s Seahorse - in places where they have been lost.

Some of our restoration work is highlighted below.

Combining science, culture and community involvement to restore Posidonia in Gamay

Over 5 years, Operation Posidonia and the Gamay Rangers are combining hands-on restoration, community engagement and education programs to revive seagrass meadows and build long-lasting support for marine conservation in Gamay.

We are excited to connect local communities and schools with restoration science through hands-on involvement in seagrass collection projects, the sharing of traditional knowledge and outreach that fosters stewardship of Gamay’s marine environments.

If you would like your local school, club, group or organisation to get involved, please get in touch!

This project is supported by

Restoring Gamay: Rejuvenating seagrass for cultural wellbeing

The Gamay Rangers are leading the first Indigenous-led seagrass restoration project in New South Wales. This restoration aims to return Posidonia to areas where it used to thrive in the La Perouse area of northern Gamay. In doing so, it will help to restore fish populations and access to cultural fishing activities for the community.

Posidonia planting is underway in Frenchmans Bay, La Perouse. The community can contribute by dropping off Posidonia shoots collected from beaches around Gamay for replanting. A collection point has been installed on the La Perouse wharf. Learn more below.

This project is supported by

Restoring Posidonia as an ecological offset measure for the Kamay Wharves project

Since 2023, Operation Posidonia and the Gamay Rangers have been restoring and monitoring Posidonia in Kurnell on the southern side of Gamay as an offsetting measure for the Kamay Wharves project. This work will ensure there is no net loss of Posidonia habitat due to development of the wharves at La Perouse and Kurnell.

So far we have revegetated 450sqm of bare sandy areas by replanting Posidonia shoots. The replanted shoots are now flowering, a great sign for the recovery of the meadow.

You can read more about the Kamay Wharves project here.

This project is supported by

Restoring and future-proofing the biocultural values of Posidonia

Operation Posidonia is developing and demonstrating effective and efficient methodologies for scaling up restoration of Posidonia.

Pioneering techniques, such as incorporating biochar and planting shoots in “sea-pods”, are being applied to trial restoring Posidonia in Penrhyn Estuary near Port Botany. This research aims to unlock the potential for expanding our restoration into new areas of Gamay.

In partnership with the Gamay Rangers, we are collaborating with Indigenous groups to record the cultural values and connections associated with Posidonia meadows in Gamay.

This project is supported by

You can help restore Posidonia seagrass meadows in Gamay

Gamay’s Posidonia meadows

need a helping hand to recoverr

Our restoration work in Gamay relies on replanting healthy Posidonia shoots that wash up on beaches around the bay. You can help us restore Posidonia by collecting Posidonia shoots from beaches in Gamay and dropping them off at dedicated collection points.

Look for fragments with green leaves and a woody base (rhizome). Learn more on the Get Involved page.

The Posidonia shoots collected by you will then be replanted at restoration sites throughout Gamay.

A collection point is located on the Kamay Wharf at La Perouse. More collection points will be installed around the bay during 2026.

We will be running community walk and talk events to spread the word about this important initiative. Please get in touch if you would like us to organise a walk and talk session for your school, club, group or organisation.

Posidonia fragments with green leaves and a woody base are best

Posidonia fragments can be dropped off at the Kamay Wharf at La Perouse

This work is done in collaboration with

We acknowledge the Gadigal and Bidjigal peoples as the custodians of the lands and waters where we conduct our research. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present and recognise their continuing connection to these places. We thank them for protecting this Country and its ecosystems for thousands of years.