Western Port Ramsar Wetland Ecological Character Description Image credits: Y. Baker Citation Kellogg Brown & Root, 2010, Western Port Ramsar Wetland Ecological Character Description. Report for Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. Acknowledgments Contributions from the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and the Western Port Ramsar Site Steering Committee, including Dr. Graham Mitchell, Simon Godschalx, Yvette Baker, Emmaline Froggatt, Scott Coutts, Mark Rodrigue, Andrea Delaney, and Xenia Dennett. In-kind contributions from David Ball (DPI), Richard Loyn and Birgita Hansen (ARI), Andy Longmore (DPI), Neil Saintilan and Kerrylee Rogers. Limitations Statement The sole purpose of this report and the associated services performed by Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd (KBR) is to prepare an ecological character description for the Western Port Ramsar site in accordance with the scope of services set out in the contract between KBR and Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities(‘the Client’). That scope of services was defined by the requests of the Client, by the time and budgetary constraints imposed by the Client, and by the availability of access to the site. KBR derived the data in this report primarily from literature available in the public domain and additional information provided by both the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and the Western Port Steering Committee. The passage of time, manifestation of latent conditions or impacts of future events may require further exploration at the site and subsequent data analysis, and re-evaluation of the findings, observations and conclusions expressed in this report. In preparing this report, KBR has relied upon and presumed accurate certain information (or absence thereof) relative to the site provided by government officials and authorities, the Client and others identified herein. Except as otherwise stated in the report, KBR has not attempted to verify the accuracy or completeness of any such information. No warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied, is made with respect to the data reported or to the findings, observations and conclusions expressed in this report. Further, such data, findings, observations and conclusions are based solely upon information available in the public domain and additional information provided by both the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and the Western Port Steering Committee in existence at the time of the investigation. This report has been prepared on behalf of and for the exclusive use of the Client, and is subject to and issued in connection with the provisions of the agreement between KBR and the Client. KBR accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this report by any third party. Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities or the Administrative Authority for Ramsar in Australia. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Guidance on the development of Ecological Character Descriptions, including Limits of Acceptable change, are areas of active policy development. Accordingly there may be differences in the type of information contained in this Ecological Character Description, to those of other Ramsar wetlands. This information does not create a policy position to be applied in statutory decision making. Further it does not provide assessment of any particular action within the meaning of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, nor replace the role of the Minister or his delegate in making an informed decision on any action. This report is not a substitute for professional advice rather it is intended to inform professional opinion by providing the authors' assessment of available evidence on change in ecological character. This information is provided without prejudice to any final decision by the Administrative Authority for Ramsar in Australia on change in ecological character in accordance with the requirements of Article 3.2 of the Ramsar Convention. Users should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances. ii SUMMARY viii 5 CHANGES TO ECOLOGICAL CHARACTER SINCE THE TIME OF 1 INTRODUCTION LISTING 1.1 Site location 1-1 1.2 Land tenure and management 5.1 Wetland bathymetry 5-1 responsibilities 1-6 5.2 Water quality 5-1 1.3 Ramsar criteria 1-8 5.3 Geomorphology and sedimentation 5-4 1.4 Wetland types 1-13 5.4 Tidal regime, hydrodynamics and 1.5 Site details 1-14 catchment inflows 5-6 1.6 Statement of purpose 1-15 5.5 Climate 5-7 1.7 Relevant treaties, legislation or 5.6 Flora 5-7 regulations 1-16 5.7 Fauna 5-14 2 CRITICAL COMPONENTS, 6 KNOWLEDGE GAPS PROCESSES, BENEFITS AND SERVICES 7 MONITORING REQUIREMENTS 2.1 Essential elements 2-1 2.2 Critical ecosystem elements 2-10 8 COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION 2.3 Ecosystem components and AND PUBLIC AWARENESS processes 2-10 2.4 Ecosystem benefits and services 2-50 9 REFERENCES 3 LIMITS OF ACCEPTABLE CHANGE 3.1 Wetland bathymetry 3-4 APPENDICES 3.2 Geomorphology and sedimentation 3-4 A Methods used in preparing the description 3.3 Flora—Seagrass 3-5 B Curriculum vitae of authors of the 3.4 Flora—Saltmarsh and mangrove 3-5 description 3.5 Fauna—Waterbirds 3-6 C Ramsar Information Sheet 3.6 Fauna—Marine invertebrates 3-6 D Non-pelagic waterbird species that occur 3.7 Fauna—Fish 3-6 at the Ramsar site classified by guild (Based on BOCA survey data) 4 THREATS TO THE ECOLOGICAL E Common invertebrates found in marine CHARACTER OF THE RAMSAR habitats F Common fish assemblages found in SITE Western Port G Atlas of Victorian Wildlife Records 4.1 Historical site and catchment threatened fauna species historically alterations 4-2 recorded within the Western Port Ramsar 4.2 Catchment and coastal erosion 4-3 site 4.3 Deteriorating water quality 4-4 H Pest species known to occur within the 4.4 Shipping 4-6 Ramsar site 4.5 Recreational activities 4-7 I Total seasonal count separated by species 4.6 Pest plants and animals 4-7 4.7 Climate change 4-9 4.8 Urban development 4-10 4.9 Grazing 4-11 4.10 Recreational and commercial fishing 4-11 iii Glossary Australian height datum The datum used to determine elevations in Australia. The AHD is based on mean (AHD) sea level being zero elevation. East Asian–Australasian The East Asian–Australasian Flyway (the Flyway) stretches from the Russian Far Flyway East and Alaska, southwards through East Asia and South-east Asia, to Australia and New Zealand and encompasses 22 countries. The East Asian–Australasian Flyway is home to over 50 million migratory waterbirds from over 250 different populations, including 28 globally threatened species. (DEWHA, not dated). Benchmark A standard or point of reference (ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000b). A predetermined state (based on the values that are sought to be protected) to be achieved or maintained (Lambert and Elix 2006). In this ECD, benchmarks are related to the baseline description at the time of listing of a Ramsar site. Benefits Benefits here refer to the economic, social and cultural benefits that people receive from ecosystems (Ramsar Convention 2005a, Resolution IX.1 Annex A). These benefits often rely on the underlying ecological components and processes in the wetland. See also ‘Ecosystem services’. Bioregion A scientifically rigorous determination of regions as established using biological or and physical parameters such as climate, soil type, vegetation cover, etc. (Ramsar Biogeographic region Convention 2005b). Catchment The total area draining into a river, reservoir, or other body of water (ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000a). Change in ecological Human-induced adverse alteration of any ecosystem component, process, and/or character ecosystem benefit/service (Ramsar Convention 2005a, Resolution IX.1 Annex A). Community An assemblage of organisms characterised by a distinctive combination of species occupying a common environment and interacting with one another (ANZECC and ARMCANZ 2000a). Diversity (biological) The variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity), of ecosystems (ecosystem diversity), and of ecological processes. This definition is based largely on the one contained in Article 2 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (Ramsar Convention 2005b). Ecological character The combination of the ecosystem components, processes, and benefits and services that characterise the wetland at a given point in time. Within this context, ecosystem benefits are defined in accordance with the variety of benefits to people (ecosystem services). The phrase ‘at a given point in time’ refers to Resolution VI.1 paragraph 2.1, which states that ‘It is essential that the ecological