Port McArthur Tidal Wetlands System (23450)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Port McArthur Tidal Wetlands System
Central coordinates: Latitude: -15.8950, Longitude: 136.7748
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 981.94302
Protected area coverage (%): 8.97
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA comprises the intertidal mudflats around Port McArthur along the Gulf of Carpentaria coast from Mule Creek (east of Bing Bong homestead) eastwards to an unnamed tidal creek about 30 km east of Pelican Spit. It includes the immediately coastal saline wetlands but not the extensive inland wetlands, which were 'not observed to have large numbers of shorebirds' (Chatto 2003). The intertidal mudflats are up to 5 km wide (widest near river mouths) and connect across the South-West Island of the Sir Edward Pellew group.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The near threatened Great-billed Heron occurs in the greatest densities recorded in extensive coastal surveys in the Northern Territory. Small numbers of the near threatened Beach Stone-curlew occur. Little Tern breeds at a small number of sites along the coast. At least two substantial waterbird breeding rookeries supporting a total of more than 3000 adult birds (egrets, cormorants and Pied Herons). The highest number of shorebirds counted was 27,500 in 50-75% of the potential shorebird habitat in October 1996 (Chatto 2003) including 1600 sand plover species, 1500 Curlew Sandpipers, 4000 knot species, 1094 Marsh Sandpipers (Chatto 2000b). A total of 10,000 shorebirds counted in aerial surveys in 2007 included an estimated 2200 Great Knot (Garnett & Coe 2007). Significant numbers of Black-tailed Godwit have been reported with a maximum count of 5230 in October 1996 (Chatto 2000b; 2003) and 1855 estimated from aerial surveys in August 2007 (Garnett & Coe 2007). Non-waterbird species recorded at the site include White-gaped Honeyeater and Australian Yellow White-eye (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Other site values: Traditional and private ownership. This IBA is on Traditionally Owned land and Bing Bong, Manangoora and Greenbank pastoral leases.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 48 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 48 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Further research is needed to assess the threats to the site and the recommended management actions, but these are likely to include actions to mitigate the impacts of sea-level rises.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Scale Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Motivation Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Only in the past and unlikely to return |
Additional information
References: Chatto, R. (2000a) Waterbird breeding colonies in the Top End of the Northern Territory. Technical Report 69, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Palmerston. Chatto, R. (2000b) A management strategy and protected areas system for coastal wildlife. (Documentation of selected sites in the Northern Territory of Australia which would qualify for nomination under the East Asian - Australasian Shorebird Site Network). Unpublished report, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Palmerston. Chatto, R. (2003) The distribution and status of shorebirds around the coast and coastal wetlands of the Northern Territory. Technical Report 73, Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, Palmerston. DEWHA (2008) Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Port McArthur Tidal Wetlands System - NT008. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed 2008. Garnett, S.T. and Coe, K. (2007) Monitoring program to assess the impact of metal pollution at Bing Bong Loading Facility on Listed Migratory Birds. Report of Survey 30-31 August 2007 to McArthur River Mining Pty Ltd. Unpublished report. Darwin: Charles Darwin University. Harrison, L., McGuire, L., Ward, S. Fisher, A., Pavey, C., Fegan, M. and Lynch, B. (2009) An inventory of sites of international and national significance for biodiversity values in the Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport, Darwin, NT. Ward, S. and Harrison, L. (2009) Recognising sites of conservation significance for biodiversity values in the Northern Territory. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts & Sport, Darwin, NT.