Corner Inlet

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We took care to attach appropriate images that are as close to representative of each species as our resources and the availability of images allowed. however, we could not ensure perfect accuaracy in every case. Some images show species that share the same genus but not at the species or subspecies level.

The Corner Inlet Ramsar site is located on the south-east coast of Victoria. It is bounded to the west and north by the South Gippsland coastline, in the south-east by a series of barrier islands and sandy spits lying end to end and separated by narrow entrances, and to the south by the hills of Wilsons Promontory. Corner Inlet includes the chain of barrier islands, multiple beach ridges, lagoons and swamps, tidal creeks, tidal deltas, and tidal washovers. The mainland coast and several sandy islands are covered with mangroves, saltmarshes, sandy beaches and very extensive intertidal mudflats. The area contains the only extensive bed of the Broad-leafed Seagrass in Victoria. The islands of Corner Inlet, although not rich in plant diversity, are of high biogeographical significance as a result of their geological history and connectivity to the mainland during ice ages. The islands also contain significant areas of saltmarsh and mangroves, both of which are communities of very limited distribution. Corner Inlet supports more than 390 species of marine invertebrates and 390 species of native flora. The Ramsar site also has a high diversity of bird species with thirty-two wader species recorded. Corner Inlet provides extensive tidal flats that are exposed at low tide, which are important feeding areas for waders. It is estimated that nearly 50 per cent of the overwintering migratory waders in Victoria occur in Corner Inlet. The nationally threatened species utilising the Ramsar site include the orange-bellied parrot, growling grass frog, Australian grayling and swift parrot. Corner Inlet was used traditionally by Indigenous people and many archaeological sites including scarred trees, burial sites, artefact scatters, shell middens and camps have been found. Currently, the Ramsar site is used for biological conservation, ports with servicing facilities for off-shore oil and natural gas exploration, commercial fishing, recreational fishing, and other recreational activities. Diving is popular around the numerous shipwreck sites in Corner Inlet and around the barrier islands.

Government evidence of impact of climate change:

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  • Australian Government, Corner Inlet Ramsar Site, Ecological Character Description

    CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER AND THREATS Table 5 Summary of Key Threats to the Ecological Character of the Corner Inlet Ramsar Site Threat Potential impacts to wetlands Timing Likelihood Consequence Risk Recreational activities Short to long term Medium Moderate Medium Natural resource utilisation Short to medium Low to Medium Moderate Low to medium Direct and indirect effects to habitats due to recreational activities (boat wash; anchor damage to seagrass; water quality impacts) Development impacts for tourism infrastructure developments Grazing impacts to vegetation Changes to fish stocks due to recreational and commercial fishing Modifications to habitats due to fishing practices Altered environmental process linked to river flows; including spawning and migrations of fish Loss of seagrass and associated impairment of ecological functions Increase in algae Changes in biological assemblages term Short to long term Medium Major High Medium to high Modified flow regimes Pollutant (sediment and nutrients) inputs affecting water quality on Short to long term Medium t oH igh Moderate to major (depending location and degree of flushing) Medium to long Low to medium Moderate to major Medium to high term Removal of vegetation and habitats Changes to water quality and hydrodynamics Interruption of surface water groundwater flow paths Water quality degradation and associated fish kills; or impairment to ecosystem functions Injury fatality of marine species and communities Medium term Low Moderate to major Low to medium Short to long term Low to medium Major Medium to high Future infrastructure development Acid sulphate soils Oil spill marine incident Habitat loss resulting from seawalls and urban development Climate change Medium to long Medium Moderate to major Medium to high Loss of habitat Pollutants in stormwater runoff and sewage Weeds and pest fauna term Long term Medium to high Major High Weeds Reduction of freshwater species Reduction of suitable fauna habitat Greater fire risk Increase in disturbance due to storm surge Reduced regeneration of native flora Disturbance of birds and other fauna; resulting in impairment to ecological functions (such as bird breeding and feeding) Predation of native fauna Modification of marine fauna assemblages due to competition Medium term Medium Moderate Medium Exotic pest fauna Short to Medium Low to Medium Moderate Low to medium term ( ) identified as a key hazard for the site by Carey et al. (2007) CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER AND THREATS Large tourism developments would have the potential to place additional pressures on the marine environment of Corner Inlet.
    The Gippsland coastal dune systems are erosion prone; and a number of climate change processes could lead to further erosion including increases in sea level; more severe storm surges and high wave actions.
    While attention to date in terms of climate change in the region has focussed on sea level rise and coastal inundation; other potential climate change impacts are also relevant for the Ramsar site.
    Particular issues include . increased extreme r ainfall e vents associated with climate c hange given t he dom inant contribution to extreme water levels and water chemistry is due to elevated stream flow . lower freshwater inputs . increased drought and higher temperature between major rainfall events leading to increased evaporation; which could expose and oxidise acid sulphate soils and exacerbate salinity in the shallow marsh environments.
    CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER AND THREATS Table 5 Summary of Key Threats to the Ecological Character of the Corner Inlet Ramsar Site Threat Potential impacts to wetlands Timing Likelihood Consequence Risk Recreational activities Short to long term Medium Moderate Medium Natural resource utilisation Short to medium Low to Medium Moderate Low to medium Direct and indirect effects to habitats due to recreational activities (boat wash; anchor damage to seagrass; water quality impacts) Development impacts for tourism infrastructure developments Grazing impacts to vegetation Changes to fish stocks due to recreational and commercial fishing Modifications to habitats due to fishing practices Altered environmental process linked to river flows; including spawning and migrations of fish Loss of seagrass and associated impairment of ecological functions Increase in algae Changes in biological assemblages term Short to long term Medium Major High Medium to high Modified flow regimes Pollutant (sediment and nutrients) inputs affecting water quality on Short to long term Medium t oH igh Moderate to major (depending location and degree of flushing) Medium to long Low to medium Moderate to major Medium to high term Removal of vegetation and habitats Changes to water quality and hydrodynamics Interruption of surface water groundwater flow paths Water quality degradation and associated fish kills; or impairment to ecosystem functions Injury fatality of marine species and communities Medium term Low Moderate to major Low to medium Short to long term Low to medium Major Medium to high Future infrastructure development Acid sulphate soils Oil spill marine incident Habitat loss resulting from seawalls and urban development Climate change Medium to long Medium Moderate to major Medium to high Loss of habitat Pollutants in stormwater runoff and sewage Weeds and pest fauna term Long term Medium to high Major High Weeds Reduction of freshwater species Reduction of suitable fauna habitat Greater fire risk Increase in disturbance due to storm surge Reduced regeneration of native flora Disturbance of birds and other fauna; resulting in impairment to ecological functions (such as bird breeding and feeding) Predation of native fauna Modification of marine fauna assemblages due to competition Medium term Medium Moderate Medium Exotic pest fauna Short to Medium Low to Medium Moderate Low to medium term ( ) identified as a key hazard for the site by Carey et al. (2007) CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER AND THREATS Large tourism developments would have the potential to place additional pressures on the marine environment of Corner Inlet.
    The Gippsland coastal dune systems are erosion prone; and a number of climate change processes could lead to further erosion including increases in sea level; more severe storm surges and high wave actions.
    While attention to date in terms of climate change in the region has focussed on sea level rise and coastal inundation; other potential climate change impacts are also relevant for the Ramsar site.
    Particular issues include . increased extreme r ainfall e vents associated with climate c hange given t he dom inant contribution to extreme water levels and water chemistry is due to elevated stream flow . lower freshwater inputs . increased drought and higher temperature between major rainfall events leading to increased evaporation; which could expose and oxidise acid sulphate soils and exacerbate salinity in the shallow marsh environments.