Shallow Inlet (23931)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Shallow Inlet
Central coordinates: Latitude: -38.8203, Longitude: 146.1533
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 18.00641
Protected area coverage (%): 90.43
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA contains all of the coastal habitat in the inlet, notably intertidal mud and saltmarsh. Shallow Inlet is a large tidal embayment with a single channel to the sea, on Victoria's south-eastern coastline near Wilson's Promontory. The seaward side is enclosed by a sandy barrier complex of spits, bars and mobile dunes. The extensive mudflats and sandy intertidal areas provide excellent habitat for shorebirds. The site also includes good quality saltmarsh, which may regularly support Orange-bellied Parrots (although only one has been seen in recent years). The IBA includes the Shallow Inlet Saltmarsh Flora & Fauna Reserve to the east of the inlet, the Flora & Fauna Reserve to the west and the eastern section of the Waratah Bay Shallow Inlet Coastal Reserve.
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: AWSG data show that Eastern Curlew exceeded the threshold in 1983 but not 'regularly', and the site also supports significant numbers of Pacific Golden Plover, Curlew Sandpiper and Sanderling. Apart from Sanderling, no comprehensive wader counts had been conducted at the inlet since 1990 until a survey on 24-25 January 2007. No Hooded Plovers were recorded at this location in a study by Weston (2003) but five were recorded in January 2007. Striated Fieldwrens have been recorded at the inlet (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Other site values: Victorian State Government.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 32 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 32 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 32 | |
| Shrubland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Human activity in the inlet should be regulated to minimise disturbance of shorebirds. Cattle should be excluded from grazing and trampling saltmarsh.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Australian Wetlands Information Sheet for Shallow Inlet (accessed 2006). AWSG wader count database (accessed 2006). Parks Victoria Information Sheet for Shallow Inlet Marine & Coastal Park (accessed 2006). Weston, M. (2003) Managing the Hooded Plover in Victoria. Unpublished report to Parks Victoria, Melbourne.
Contributors: Bird data and site description from Shorebirds Site Network nomination by Peter Collins. Bird data supplied by the AWSG Victorian Branch and DSE for Sanderling.