Raine Island, Moulter and Maclennan Cays (23971)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2022
National site name: Raine Island, Moulter and Maclennan Cays
Central coordinates: Latitude: -11.4480, Longitude: 143.9395
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 4
Area of KBA (km2): 9.19041
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This KBA consists of the neighbouring islands of Raine Island, Moulter Cay and MacLennan Cay which make up Raine Island National Park (Scientific). These islands are located on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, just south of the tip of Cape York. Raine Island supports the world’s largest remaining rookery for the endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the most significant seabird rookery in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. This 21 ha coral cay consists of a vegetated ridge surrounding a bare central depression, which was previously mined for phosphorous. The majority of the central bare depression is occupied by masked boobies, with Brown Boobies nesting around the edges and extending onto the vegetated ridges. Low phosphate cliff edges provide nesting habitat for red-tailed tropicbirds and the wide sandy beaches that surround the island provide nesting habitat for green turtles. Moulter (previously called Pandora) Cay is a 8.6 ha cay vegetated with grass, herbs and a few shrubs. MacLennan Cay is a 2.4 ha cay that was vegetated but in the last few years has experienced wash-overs and is currently unvegetated. Raine Island National Park (Scientific) is located within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park and is managed through an Indigenous Land Use Agreement which allows for joint management by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Traditional Owners Wuthathi People and Meriam Nation People (Ugar, Mer, Erub).
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This KBA has hosts a globally significant breeding populations of Brown Booby Sula leucogaster and Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel. Nesting pair/adult counts of Brown Booby have exceeded 1% of the global adult population every year with adequate data over the last 10 years of surveys. Lesser Frigatebird also aggregate to nest in high densities in this KBA, with breeding pair counts exceeding 1% of the estimated global adult population in 6 out of 7 years with adequate data. Both these species trigger a KBA under Criterion D1a.
Additional biodiversity: Raine Island is the largest known nesting aggregation of IUCN Endangered Green Turtles Chelonia mydas in the world. Tens of thousands of adult females come ashore to lay their eggs on the island, primarily during the mid-summer months but also at other times throughout the year. Over 80 bird species of birds have been recorded within this KBA, and Raine Island is the most diverse seabird rookery in the Great Barrier Reef region. Additional (i.e. non-trigger) seabird species that nest within the KBA include: Brown Noddy Anous stolidus, Black Noddy Anous minutus, Masked Booby Sula dactylatra, Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda, Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana, Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus, Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis, Great Frigatebird Fregata minor, Herald Petrel Pterodroma heraldica (Listed as Critically Endangered nationally), Nankeen Night-heron Nycticorax caledonicus, Red-footed Booby Sula sula, Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae, Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus and Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica. Many of these breeding populations are regionally significant, and the Masked Booby population falls just below the 1% global threshold for triggering. The site is also an important feeding area for Tiger Sharks Galeocerdo cuvier targeting green turtles. Ref: Wuthathi People, Meriam Nation People, and Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service and Partnerships (2021). Raine Island National Park (Scientific) Management Statement. , 42. Available at: https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/166946/raine-island.pdf [accessed 29 July 2021]
Manageability of the site: This KBA consists of three cays which are managed together as a single national park: 'Raine Island National Park (Scientific)'
Other site values: Wuthathi People of eastern Cape York Peninsula identify as the Traditional Owners/Custodians and holders of Native Title within in the KBA. Erubam Le, Meriam Le and Ugarem Le from the eastern islands of Torres Strait, which together make up the Meriam Nation, also identify as holders of Native Title within in the KBA. Both Wuthathi People and Meriam Nation people have a Land Use Agreement (ILUA) over the area. Source: Raine Island National Park (Scientific) Indigenous Land Use Agreement Working Group (2018a)
Delineation rationale: The KBA boundary consists of 1km radius circles drawn around each island/cay.
Habitats
Land use: The KBA is currently managed by the Wuthathi People, Meriam Nation People, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Partnerships (QPWS&P), and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. There is no public access to the cays; access is restricted to indigenous, scientific and conservation purposes only. A Restricted Access Special Management Area is also declared over the adjoining State and Commonwealth marine park waters. The following Great Barrier Reef Marine Park use Zones cover this KBA: Marine National Park (IUCN II). For further details on site management see: Wuthathi People, Meriam Nation People, and Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service and Partnerships (2021). Raine Island National Park (Scientific) Management Statement. , 42. Available at: https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/166946/raine-island.pdf [accessed 29 July 2021]
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 15 | |
| Marine Neritic | 85 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic species/diseases of unknown origin | Only in the future | |
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Oil spills | Only in the future |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Only in the future | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Temperature extremes | Only in the future |