This project addresses the 2013 NSW FRAB research priority “Understanding environmental impacts on commercially important species”. The paucity of knowledge of EKP nursery habitats in NSW is a significant problem, as the estuarine nursery phase is the period where EKP are most likely to be affected by (non-fishing) anthropogenic activities and potentially represents a recruitment bottleneck which directly affects productivity. Investment in research in the southern United States has found that:
1) There is quantitative relationship between intertidal vegetation and the yield of penaeid prawns (Turner, 1977);
2) Restoration of connectivity and rehabilitation of saltmarsh areas has a quantifiable benefit for prawn fisheries (Rozas et al., 2005).

Research into estuarine nursery habitats for EKP in south-eastern Queensland forms the basis of the sustainable management of their prawn fishery through a recruitment index. In NSW, however, there is a paucity of knowledge on the early life history stages, including recruitment to estuaries, use of estuarine habitats by natural recruits, and factors that affect growth and survival of young EKP. Regulating river flows in estuaries and restricting tidal flow into wetlands can destroy connectivity between new recruits and their nursery areas. NSW commercial fishers have indicated that wetlands in the lower portion of estuaries (such as Hexham Swamp in the Hunter River) were historically significant nursery areas for EKP, prior to their destruction. These anecdotes highlight a need to understand the nursery habitats and hydrographic conditions that contribute to the EKP fishery in NSW. An understanding of the nursery function of these areas, the extent of habitats lost, remaining and restored, is required to provide a basis for assessing the competing costs and benefits of habitat rehabilitation. Further, this project represents an important case study to highlight the potential financial benefits to fisheries of rehabilitation and restoration of appropriate estuarine habitats.