Shoalwater Bay (Rockhampton) (24452)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a, A1c, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Shoalwater Bay (Rockhampton)
Central coordinates: Latitude: -22.4877, Longitude: 150.5563
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 19
Area of KBA (km2): 491.89786
Protected area coverage (%): 98.17
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Shoalwater Bay is located 93 km north of Rockhampton and comprises a complex continuous wetland aggregation that is formed in a large shallow marine embayment. It is a good example of shallow marine and estuarine wetland, and various freshwater wetland types on coastal sands. The site is part of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, which is 453,700 ha of mainland, islands and intervening marine areas, owned by the Department of Defence (Australian Government) and managed equally for the purposes of military training and nature conservation. The IBA covers all wetland habitat suitable for migratory shorebirds, including all intertidal mud flats, extending from Broome Head in the north to the southern boundary of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, including Akens Island, Pelican Rock and Corio Bay to the south and including the north-eastern beaches, which have limited intertidal areas for migratory shorebirds but support Beach Stone-curlews. The IBA excludes the marine waters within the Training Area, some inland sections of the Ramsar site and the dry mainland portions of the Training Area. Six wetland habitats occur within the area: shallow open water systems including seagrass beds, rocky marine shores, beaches and bars, lower intertidal mudflats, mangrove communities, supra-tidal flats and freshwater swamps (wet heath, grass/sedge and shrubby/wooded).
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: Shoalwater Bay was estimated to support 23,000 migratory shorebirds in 1995 and 32,000 in 2007 (Jaensch 2008). This includes significant populations of Bar-tailed Godwit (5077 in 1195; 4242 in 2007); Whimbrel (7089 in 1995; 2891 in 2007); Terek Sandpiper (3410 in 1995; 1953 in 2007) and Little Tern (1300 in 1995). Australian Pelicans nest on Akens Island, usually 300-400 pairs but occasionally up to 1000 pairs (P. O'Neill in litt. 2008). Access to the island is restricted by the Department of Defence. A total of 226 bird species have been recorded from the larger Shoalwater Bay Training Area (Ramsar summary on DEH website). Bush Stone-Curlew have been recorded in the region (Atlas of Australian Birds database) but numbers of this species are unknown. Non-bird biodiversity: Rich aquatic beds of seagrass that consist of eight species, and 18 of the 39 species of mangrove found in Australia, occur in the area. The seagrass provides extensive areas of Dugong habitat. Significant non-breeding populations of Green Turtle use the area, and Loggerhead, Flatback and Hawksbill Turtles also occur. Estuarine Crocodiles have been observed in Shoalwater Creek and Port Clinton.
Other site values: Department of Defence. Access is strictly prohibited without authorisation from the Department of Defence.
Habitats
Land use: military | nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 25 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 25 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 25 | |
| Forest | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Implement recommendations in the area’s integrated strategic plan and management plan.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | War, civil unrest & military exercises | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Capricorn Coast Protection Council (1974) An ecological study of Corio Bay, Central Queensland. Commissioned Report. Driscoll, P. (1995) Survey of shorebird feeding areas and roosts in the Shoalwater Bay area. Unpublished report. Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) for Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area (Shoalwater Bay Training Area, in part - Corio Bay) - 44, taken from www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/wetlands Jaensch, R. 2008. A condition assessment of wetlands and waterbirds in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Part 4: numbers of migratory shorebirds. Unpublished report to Australian Government Department of Defence, by Wetlands International, Brisbane. O'Neill, P. and Driscoll, P. (1995) Survey of shorebird feeding areas and roosts in the Shoalwater Bay area. Commissioned report for Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage and the Queensland Wader Studies Group.
Contributors: Allan Briggs of Birds Australia Capricornia, John McCabe of QPWS, Paul O'Neill of QPWS (now Defence), Peter Driscoll and Roger Jaensch of Wetlands International kindly provided data and comments. The nomination was kindly supported by Leanne Sommer of the Department of Defence.