Marion Bay (26515)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Marion Bay
Central coordinates: Latitude: -42.8347, Longitude: 147.8740
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 5
Area of KBA (km2): 5.52995
Protected area coverage (%): 8.12
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This IBA comprises the oceanic sandy beaches of Marion Bay, at the head of the Tasman Peninsula in south-east Tasmania. It includes Marion Bay beach and North Bay beach in south Marion Bay, extending around Long Spit into the intertidal mud-flats of Porpoise Hole and Two-Mile Beach in Blackman Bay. These beaches and mudflats form a single system used by shorebirds. The Marion Bay and Two-Mile beaches are high-energy storm-swept sandy beaches, while Porpoise Hole is a sheltered intertidal muddy beach with extensive mudflats and sand-bars at low tide.
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: Red-necked Stint regularly above 600 (max count 1925 birds in 2005/06), Curlew Sandpiper 10-20, Sooty Oystercatcher above 40; one or two pairs of Little Tern (E. Woehler pers. comm. 2009). The Marion Bay IBA together with the South Arm IBA to the west are part of a network of wetlands which collectively support more than 1% of the global population of Red-necked Stint, but numbers within each individual IBA are below the 1% threshold.
Other site values: Marion Bay Beach is partly privately owned to the high water mark. Some of the beach is the Long Spit Private Nature Reserve. Two-Mile Beach is Crown Land.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 95 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Control human disturbance during breeding season. Restrict dogs to dog exercise area. Encourage adoption of draft management plan for Long Spit Private Nature Reserve.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Rudman, T. (2003) Tasmanian Beach Strategy for marram grass, sea spurge, sea wheatgrass, pyp grass & beach daisy. Technical Report 03/2. DPIWE Nature Conservation Branch: Hobart. Tasmanian Bird Report - summer and winter wader counts. Woehler, E. and Park, P. (2006) Inventory of Nationally Important Shorebird Sites in Tasmania. Unpublished report by Birds Tasmania for Birds Australia.
Contributors: Eric Woehler provided much of the data, based on fieldwork and management by Birds Tasmania, Tasmanian Land Conservancy and Marion Bay Coastcare.