Robbins Passage and Boullanger Bay (23989)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Robbins Passage and Boullanger Bay
Central coordinates: Latitude: -40.7123, Longitude: 144.9428
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 20
Area of KBA (km2): 229.67664
Protected area coverage (%): 12.09
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA includes all of the extensive intertidal mudflats up to the high-tide line around Robbins Island, extending east around Perkins Bay to North Point, in north-west Tasmania. This includes fringing saltmarsh, and it could be extended further to include coastal farmland which is likely to support Orange-bellied Parrots on migration. It also includes the small Petrel Islands, the large Walker Island and small coastal areas of north and south-east Robbins Island which support large numbers of Short-tailed Shearwater. This contains the largest area of tidal mud and sandbanks in Tasmania as well as a series of islands and tidal channels, beaches and estuaries. The IBA is the most important shorebird site in Tasmania, with more than 25,000 shorebirds (about 75% migratory) during summer months, and is probably a major migratory staging point. Harvesting of Short-tailed Shearwater is permitted within Petrel Islands Game 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: Locally significant numbers of Ruddy Turnstone: one historic count of 3586 (AWSG data), maximum counts from complete area counts: 1997 = 1920, 1998 = 2450, 1999 = 1793, 2002 = 1162, 2003 = 2217, 2004 = 1176, 2005 = 809 (Woehler 2007). Eastern Curlew have been historically recorded in numbers up to 400. Wedge-tailed Eagle and White-bellied Sea-Eagle breed.
Other site values: Parts of four small protected areas are included but most of the IBA is private properties, some of which extend to low water mark. Permission needs to be obtained to access private properties.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | hunting | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced Vegetation | 5 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 43 | |
| Marine Neritic | 43 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Exotic weeds on mudflats and saltmarsh should be eradicated or controlled. Access for 4WD drive vehicles should be restricted to minimise disturbance to shorebirds, especially Hooded Plover and Fairy Tern.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Marine & freshwater aquaculture | Industrial aquaculture | Ongoing |
| 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: Ashby, R. (1991) Waders of far north-west Tasmania. Stilt 19: 44-49. Birds Australia (2006) Shorebird Conservation Robbins Passage/Boullanger Bay Wetlands Area - Values Mapping Project. Unpublished report. Birds Australia: Melbourne. Brothers, N., Pemberton, D., Pryor, H. and Halley, V. (2001) Tasmania's Offshore Islands: seabirds and other natural features. Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery: Hobart. Rudman, T. (2003) Tasmanian Beach Weed Strategy for marram grass, sea spurge, sea wheatgrass, pyp grass & beach daisy. Technical Report 03/2. DPIWE Nature Conservation Branch: Hobart Tasmania. Skira, I.J., Brothers, N.P. and Pemberton, D. (1996) Distribution, abundance and conservation status of Short-tailed Shearwaters Puffinus tenuirostris in Tasmania, Australia. Marine Ornithology 24: 1-14. Woehler, E. (2007) Inventory of shorebird sites in the Cradle-Coast NRM region, including King Island, 2006/07. Report to Cradle-Coast NRM and DPIW. Woehler, E. and Park, P. (2006) Inventory of Nationally Important Shorebird Sites in Tasmania. Unpublished report by Birds Tasmania for Birds Australia.
Contributors: The nomination was prepared by Eric Woehler with assistance from the Robbins Passage Wetlands Coast and Landcare Group, Fiona Spruzen and Bianca Priest. Need to consult land-owner umbrella group or via public media.