Conclusions Conclusions 1. Significant local beach erosion has been attributed to dredging and development of the Bay since the 1970's. Seagrass beds may be lost from the northern shoreline of the Bay and Posidonia seagrass from the Bay altogether in the next decade, should recorded loss trends continue.
Small plovers are now in very low numbers and just above the vagrant status in Botany Bay.
Curlew Sandpiper numbers have declined markedly over the last 10 years to very low numbers. Commercial fish-catch numbers for fin fish have shown significant declines over the last 20 years. Flathead, leather jacket and other fish may continue to be caught in very low numbers. Water quality decline has been evident for major rivers entering Botany Bay over several decades, and total nitrogen exceeds the indicative national water quality guideline for nitrogen as nitrate or ammonia. Suspended sediment level fluctuation has exceeded the national guidelines markedly.