Swain Reefs (23975)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2022
National site name: Swain Reefs
Central coordinates: Latitude: -21.6246, Longitude: 152.0900
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 2
Area of KBA (km2): 17577.56232
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This KBA consists of the cays, reefs and surrounding waters of the Swain Reefs complex in the southern outer Great Barrier Reef, situated off the cost from Rockhampton, Queensland. The KBA covers an area of 17,578 km². There are at lest 16 coral cays that regularly support breeding and non-breeding seabirds, including globally significant numbers of IUCN VU Fairy Terns (New Caledonian subspecies) and overwintering Roseate Terns. The waters surrounding the cays are used as feeding grounds by these species. Three islands no longer have vegetation, and the other cays are vegetated primarily with grass (e.g. stalky grass and Lepturus repens and tropical beachgrass Thuarea involuta), tar vine Boerhavia diffusa and herbs. The KBA is part of the Swain Reefs National Park, and the whole area is in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park with the following zonings: Preservation Zone, Marine National Park, General Use and Habitat Protection.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This KBA is triggered by Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii (D1a) and Fairy Tern Sternula nereis (A1b). Swain Reefs KBA hosts a large proportion of the global non-breeding adult population of Roseate Terns, easily exceeding the 1% threshold for triggering under criterion D1a. Roseate Terns aggregate on Swain Reefs in high densities during the Australian summer, where they overwinter from their northern hemisphere breeding grounds. Roseate Terns roost on cays in the Swain Reefs and forage in the surrounding waters within this KBA. Every year over the last decade with adequate data has exceeded the 1% threshold. Swain Reefs KBA also hosts approximately 1.2% of the global breeding population of IUCN Vulnerable Fairy Terns, exceeding the 1% threshold for triggering under criterion A1b. This population belongs to the New Caledonian subspecies Sternula nereis exul. Two cays within this KBA regularly support Fairy Terns and are considered hotspots for this species, with an additional seven cays in the KBA supporting lower numbers. At least 10 pairs of Fairy Terns have are believed to breed in this KBA annually.
Additional biodiversity: This KBA supports breeding populations of numerous seabird species: Little Tern Sternula albifrons, Brown Noddy Anous stolidus, Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus, Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii, Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis, Masked Booby Sula dactylatra, Brown Booby S. leucogaster and Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel. This KBA is one of the core seabird breeding sites in the Great Barrier Reef, and the only southern Great Barrier Reef site where Lesser Frigatebird breed. The Swain Reefs KBA is of value to the conservation of IUCN Endangered Green Turtle Chelonia mydas and IUCN Vulnerable Loggerhead Turtle Caretta caretta because it contains feeding and nesting habitat. The surrounding waters also support remote calving grounds for Humpback Whales Megaptera novaeangliae. For a more comprehensive list for the biodiversity values of this site see tables 1 & 2 in: Queensland Department of National Parks Recreation Sport and Racing (2013). Swain Reefs National Park and adjoining State Marine Park Management Statement 2013. Available at: https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/166446/swain-reefs.pdf [accessed 26 April 2021]
Manageability of the site: All cays that make up this KBA are managed by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and come under a single Management Plan: Queensland Department of National Parks Recreation Sport and Racing (2013). Swain Re
Other site values: Darumbal People are the Traditional Owners of the Swain Reefs KBA. Darumbal People Aboriginal Corporation Registered Native Title Body (DPAC RNTBC) hold Native Title claims on the mainland and some offshore islands around Rockhampton, however currently there are no Native Title Claims over Swain Reefs.
Delineation rationale: The KBA boundary follows the natural boundary to the north, east, and south of Swain Reefs formed by benthic transition to deeper water, which is visible on satellite imagery. To the west/north-west where coral reefs continue, the KBA boundary was drawn to include all cays considered to be part of the Swain Reefs by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
Habitats
Land use: The KBA is currently managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service for a variety of uses, but primarily conservation and preservation of this World Heritage Area. Uses include: tourism, education, scientific research and cultural heritage / traditional use. The following Great Barrier Reef Marine Park use Zones cover Swain Reefs KBA: Habitat Protection (IUCN VI), Marine National Park (IUCN II), Preservation (IUCN IA)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 15 | |
| Marine Neritic | 75 |
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 | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Oil spills | In the past but now suspended and likely to return |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Only in the future |