Coffin Bay (25112)
Australia, Australasia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2009

National site name: Coffin Bay

Central coordinates: Latitude: -34.5933, Longitude: 135.3323

System: marine, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 0 to 10

Area of KBA (km²): 348.35078

Protected area coverage (%): 99.75

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA consists of the whole of Coffin Bay National Park and the rest of Coffin Bay, 50 km west of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula. The IBA includes all of the National Park as it supports significant numbers of Western Whipbirds and Hooded Plovers, as well as the other intertidal flats of the bay, including Kellidie Bay, Mount Dutton Bay and Horse Peninsula north to the north end of Farm Beach. There are eight small calcarenite islands and the muddy Yangie Bay island within the bay. The small offshore islands of the Whidbey Isles and Avoid Islands Conservation Parks are also included in the IBA as they are believed to support breeding Sooty Oystercatchers. A short stretch of the coast between Coffin Bay National Park and Kellidie Bay Conservation Park supports the Coffin Bay township. The offshore islands and southern coastline are characterised by steep coastal headlands of mallee scrub and sheoaks and oceanic seas, whereas the bay is much more sheltered and gentle. The site experiences a mild Mediterranean climate with mean annual rainfall of 500 mm.

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: Approximately 150 species of bird have been recorded in the Coffin Bay region. The IBA is a locally important breeding site for Osprey and White-bellied Sea-Eagle, both of which are listed as endangered in South Australia. The IBA also provides habitat for a number of other species which are considered to be rare at local, regional or state level, such as Eastern Reef Egret, Australasian Shoveler, Cape Barren Goose (recorded breeding on Whidbey islands), Eastern Curlew, Wood Sandpiper, Latham's Snipe, Buff-banded Rail, Swamp Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Scarlet Robin, Diamond Firetail, White-winged Chough, Weebill and Southern Emu-wren (Department for Environment and Heritage 2004). The IBA has supported moderate numbers of Red-necked Stint with an estimated population of 1960 in Coffin Bay wetlands in the early 1980s and a count of 587 at Point Longnose in 2000 (Wilson 2000). The IBA has also supported low to moderate numbers of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper with an estimated population of 372 in the early 1980s and a count of 92 at Point Longnose in 2000 (Wilson 2000). The IBA regularly supports more than 1% of the East Asian-Australasian flyway population of Sanderling (e.g. Wilson 2000). Non-bird biodiversity: Eleven species of terrestrial mammal (of which seven are introduced), 12 species of marine mammal, 20 species of lizard, six species of snake, several (mostly unidentified) species of amphibian and more than 250 species of native plant have been recorded in the Coffin Bay region (Department for Environment and Heritage 2004).

Other site values: Department for Environment and Heritage; Dept. of Fisheries and PIRSA Aquaculture manage private oyster farm leases.

Habitats

Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | nature conservation and research

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Marine Neritic	32
Forest	5
Shrubland	32
Marine Intertidal	32

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Rationalise beach use within and outside the National Park, including regulation of vehicle access. Investigate impact of oyster farms on key bird species.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Marine & freshwater aquaculture	Industrial aquaculture	Ongoing
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas		Ongoing
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities		Ongoing

Additional information

References: Department for Environment and Heritage (2004) Parks of the Coffin Bay Area Management Plan. Adelaide: Department for Environment and Heritage. Wilson, J.R. (2000) South Australian wader surveys. January and February 2000. Unpublished report. Melbourne: Australasian Wader Studies Group. DEWHA (2008) A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Coffin Bay Coastal Wetland System - SA008. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed August 2008.