Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2014 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/doc/ris/key_ris_e.doc and http://www.ramsar.org/pdf/ris/key_ris_e.pdf Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 17, 4th edition). 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and DD MM YY Environment (DPIPWE) GPO Box 44 HOBART Tasmania 7001 Australia Designation date Site Reference Number +61 3 6165 4396 [email protected] 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: May 2014 3. Country: Australia 4. Name of the Ramsar site: The precise name of the designated site in one of the three official languages (English, French or Spanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses after the precise name. Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only): a) Designation of a new Ramsar site ; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar site boundary and site area are unchanged: or Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 2 If the site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately ; or ii) the boundary has been extended ; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately ; or ii) the area has been extended ; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note: If the boundary and/or area of the designated site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. In 2001, the boundary of the Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon Ramsar site was mapped more accurately using an updated coverage of the high water mark. The area was recalculated to 3334ha. The boundary of the site remains the same. The revised area was provided in the 2005 RIS update for this site. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the site: No major changes noted since previous RIS. However, changes are noted since the original listing of the site in 1982. Recent studies have shown that changes have occurred in the flow regime of the Coal River, the principal source of freshwater input, as a consequence of dam construction. Flows are now lower overall, peak seasons reversed from winter to summer and flushing flows have ceased. Seagrass beds in the estuary appear to have declined considerably in extent and fish populations are reported to have also declined. The extent of saltmarshes has declined and floristics of some saltmarshes has altered. The Rolling Review (2011) indicated that there was insufficient monitoring of indicators to determine whether there was a change in ecological character at the site. There have also been some improvements at the site. The construction of box culverts with sills at mid- tide level and additional drains has improved tidal exchange and circulation though the lagoon. A 2012 shorebird and seabird survey recorded 62 breeding pairs of Australian Pied Oystercatchers Haematopus longirostris (Woehler 2013) which is in the range of 1% of the global population estimates (11,000 – 14,000 birds, Wetlands International 2006). It is possible that the site may also meet Criterion 6. However, ongoing monitoring is required to demonstrate that the site regularly supports 1% of the population in order to meet Criterion 6. Birds that utilise the site are listed at Appendix 1. 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines, for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): ; ii) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) (Figure 1); iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables . b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 3 The boundary of Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon Ramsar site includes all of allotment 1 on Central Plan Register (CPR) 5776 from the Tasmanian Information and Land Services, Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. CPR 5776 horizontal datum is Australian Geodetic Datum (AGD66) Universal Transverse Mercator Projection Australian Map Grid (UTM AMG66) and Australian Height Datum (Tasmania) for vertical datum (Figure 2). Cadastral information about surrounding land parcels can be obtained from the Land Information System Tasmania (LIST) mapping site http://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/or the limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas. 42° 47' 56.53"S, 147° 30' 37.95"E 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the location of the nearest large town. The wetland is located on the south-east coast of Tasmania, approximately 20 kilometres east of the city of Hobart, between the towns of Cambridge, Richmond and Sorell. The eastern area of the site lies within the Sorell Municipality (approximately 12,500 residents), and the western area in the Clarence Municipality (approximately 50,500 residents). The boundary for the most part follows high water mark and property boundaries but also includes several areas comprising the Pitt Water Nature Reserve while the southern boundary follows a direct line across the open basin of Pitt Water. 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) The whole site is less than 20m ASL 11. Area: (in hectares) 3,334 ha 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. The Pitt Water-Orielton Lagoon (PWOL) Ramsar site comprises the uppermost parts of a wave- dominated barred estuary. The principal features are the channel and mouth of the Coal River estuary, Orielton Lagoon, a large embayment now almost closed by a causeway, and an extensive area of open marine waters. PWOL supports a diversity of coastal, intertidal and marine habitats and communities, and is therefore a species-rich environment. Orielton Lagoon is the most southerly site included on the Flyway Site Network of the East-Asian – Australasian Partnership. The area includes most of the saltmarsh vegetation communities found in Tasmania. 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box under each Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsar site. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the Criteria and guidelines for their application (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 8 • 9 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Provide justification for each Criterion in turn, clearly identifying to which Criterion the justification applies (see Annex II for guidance on acceptable forms of justification). Criterion 2: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities. Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 4 Common Name Scientific Name IUCN CITES CMS National Status Status Status (EPBC Act*) Tasmanian Live- Patiriella Vulnerable bearing Seastar (=Parvulastra) vivipara Swift Parrot Lathamus discolour Vulnerable Endangered Wedge-tailed eagle Aquila audax fleayi Vulnerable Vulnerable (Tasmanian) Fairy Tern Sterna nereis Vulnerable Endangered Sub Specices Sternula nereis nereis Eastern Curlew Numenius Vulnerable madagascariensis Subtropical and Vulnerable Temperate (listed 2013) Coastal Salt marsh *Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Criterion 3: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports populations of plant and/or animal species important for maintaining the biological diversity of a particular biogeographic region. PWOL is an important area for maintaining biodiversity of saltmarshes, birds and fish. The estuary is fringed with saltmarshes hosting different facies of vegetation communities and species. Although the area of saltmarsh within the Ramsar boundary encompasses only about 3.5 per cent of the estimated total area of saltmarsh in Tasmania, the floristic communities include 12 of the 15 identified by Kirkpatrick and Glasby (1981).