Western Port (23934)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Western Port
Central coordinates: Latitude: -38.3553, Longitude: 145.3478
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 613.57014
Protected area coverage (%): 98.34
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Western Port is a large bay of the coast of central Victoria. The boundaries of the IBA are those of the Ramsar site, with the inclusion of some additional salt marsh on French Island, which supports Orange-bellied Parrots. Other paddocks on French Island occasionally support Orange-bellied Parrots but these are irregular. Western Port is a large bay with extensive intertidal flats, mangroves, salt marsh, seagrass beds, several small islands and the two large islands of French and Phillip. Only the north-east coast of Phillip island is included in this IBA, whereas the south coast is included in the Phillip Island IBA. Western Port is a tidal bay with numerous inlet streams including Merricks Creek, Yallock Creek and Bass River and several major drains such as Bunyip River. It is a very good example of a saltmarsh-mangrove-seagrass wetland system. The plains to the north of the bay used to be extensive swamps that are now agricultural land draining to Western Port.
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: Western Port regularly supports more than 20,000 waterbirds (DSE 2003); it is believed that these numbers have been maintained through the 2000s. The bay hosts significant below-threshold numbers of Black Swan and Chestnut Teal although both species have declined over time. This can be seen from a comparison of the average counts for 14 years to 2006 with those for the five years to 2006: Black Swan 4015/3008 and Chestnut Teal 991/689. Significant numbers of Short-tailed Shearwater feed in the channels of the bay during summer. One pair of the near-threatened Hooded Plover has nested in 2006 and 2007 (R. Jessop in litt. 2007). The near threatened Flame Robin was recorded in eight of 215 (8%) Atlas of Australian Birds surveys from 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds database); and the biome-restricted Striated Fieldwren was recorded in 17 of 215 (8%) Atlas of Australian Birds surveys from 1998 to 2008 (Atlas of Australian Birds database).
Other site values: Unreserved Crown Land, coastal, nature, marine & public purpose parks & reserves managed by Parks Victoria; waters and sea beds (unreserved Crown Land) & shoreline near Somers managed by DSE; declared naval waters managed by Dept of Defence; Port of Hastings managed by Victorian Channels Authority; Shoreline Stony Point to Jacks Beach managed by Committee of Management; Finders Phillip Island Nature Park managed by park authority; Elizabeth and Sandstone Islands (both very small) - freehold.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | military | nature conservation and research | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 50 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Investigate causes of Fairy Tern declines. Minimise environmental impact of any industrial expansions. Restrict grazing and restore natural hydrology to unprotected saltmarshes.
| 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 |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Soil erosion, sedimentation | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Residential & commercial development | Commercial & industrial areas | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: BOCA Western Port bird counts database. Parks Victoria (1998) French Island National Park Management Plan - October 1998. Parks Victoria: Kew. DSE (2003) Western Port Ramsar Site Strategic Management Plan. Department of Sustainability and Environment: East Melbourne.
Contributors: BOCA kindly gave access to their long-term bird monitoring database. Richard Lyon - Arthur Rylah Institute of Environmental Research; Janet Holmes - DSE and Peter Dann provided expert advice during preparation of the nomination.