Criterion 8 A wetland should be considered internationally important if it is an important source of food for fishes, spawning ground, nursery and/or migration path on which fish stocks, either within the wetland or elsewhere, depend. Corner Inlet provides important habitats, feeding areas, dispersal and migratory pathways, and spawning sites for numerous fish species of direct and indirect fisheries significance. These fish have important fisheries resource values both within and external to the site. BMT WBM (2011) identifies the key species for which the site meets this criterion. Critical components, processes and services The Corner Inlet ECD identified two components, a process and two services that are critical to the ecological character of the Ramsar site. Detailed descriptions of these critical CPS can be found in that ECD : Marine and estuarine wetland habitats – ECD section 3.3.1: Marine subtidal aquatic beds. seagrass Permanent shallow marine waters without seagrass Intertidal and shallow subtidal sand or mud flats. intertidal Intertidal and fringing forested wetlands. mangrove forest. saltmarsh. Abundance and diversity of waterbirds – ECD section 3.3.2. Waterbird breeding – ECD section 3.5.1. Presence of threatened species – ECD section 3.7.1 (see update below). Fisheries resource values – ECD section 3.7.2. Changes to the listed threatened species under the EPBC Act, have resulted in an update of the critical service: “presence of threatened species” which is described below. In addition, a review of evidence for two species (growling grass frog and orange-bellied parrot) as being critical has concluded these species are not critical services for the Ramsar site as outlined in Section 3.1. Changes to existing critical CPS “presence of threatened species” Recent additions to the list of threatened species in Australia and more comprehensive migratory bird data have resulted in the following bird species being added to the critical service “presence of threatened species” in addition to the Australian fairy tern and Australian grayling. Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica baueri) - Vulnerable Curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) – Critically endangered Eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis) – Critically endangered Great knot (Calidris tenuirostris) – Critically endangered
Table . Revised LAC for the Corner Inlet Ramsar Site. Critical CPS Existing LAC Evidence Revised LAC Confidence Permanent shallow marine waters A greater than 20 percent reduction in the extent of sub tidal channel (areas mapped by NLWRA = 16 349 hectares), observed on two sampling occasions within any decade (LAC – mapped area less than 13 079 hectares). (Note: the moderate degree of allowable change recognises that shallow subtidal waters represent a critical habitat resource, generally show low natural variability, but data reliability is low) Although no new mapping of shallow sub-tidal waters has been undertaklen since 1998, the area has been revised to accommodate more recent mapping of other wetland types which were formerly mapped as this wetland type. The LAC is set to allow for a moderate degree of change, recognising that shallow subtidal waters represent a critical habitat resource, generally show low natural variability. As mapping resolution for permanent shallow marine waters is coarse, the confidence of the LAC has been assigned as medium. A greater than 20 percent reduction in the extent of sub tidal channel (10,520 hectares), observed on two sampling occasions within any decade (LAC – mapped area less than 8,416 hectares). Medium Intertidal flats A greater than 20 percent reduction in the extent of permanent saline wetland – intertidal (areas mapped by DSE = 40 479 hectares, (LAC – mapped area less than 36 431 hectares). (Note: the moderate degree of allowable change recognises that intertidal flats represent a critical habitat resource and generally show low natural variability. A loss of intertidal flat would also result in changes in seagrass) Although no new mapping of intertidal flats has been undertaklen since 1998, the area has been revised to accommodate more recent mapping of other wetland types which were formerly mapped as this wetland type. The LAC is set to allow for a moderate degree of change, recognising that intertidal flats represent a critical habitat resource and generally show low natural variability. A loss of intertidal flat would also result in changes in seagrass. As mapping resolution for intertidal flats is coarse, the confidence of the LAC has been assigned as medium. A greater than 20 percent reduction in the extent of permanent saline wetland – intertidal (24,950 hectares, (LAC – mapped area less than 19,960 hectares). Medium