Coasts & Estuaries - City of Port Adelaide Enfield - SA.Gov.au

Coast & EstuariesBird HabitatThe Barker Inlet forms part of the international migratory bird treaties. 57 species of waterbirds havebeen recorded in the area: 12 are listed under international treaties. Significant breeding habitats for18 species of waterbirds including; pelicans, cormorants, oystercatchers, gulls, terns, egrets andherons (Barker Inlet Port Estuary Committee (BIPEC), http://www.bipec.on.net/about.html).The tidal mudflats are likely to provide significant habitat for wading birds covered under the ‘Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement’ (JAMBA) and ‘China Australia Migratory Bird Agreement’(CAMBA). The mangrove areas on Torrens Island provide one of the few breeding areas for the littleegret and rufous night heron in South Australia (EPA,2005).Mangroves, Seagrass and SaltmarshThe estuary contains the largest area of mangrove forest, shallow seagrasses and mudflats in Gulf StVincent. Sheltered conditions and good light penetration create very high levels of plant and animalproduction making these prime contributors to the ecology of the gulf and major nursery habitats forjuvenile species of commercial fish and crustaceans, particularly juvenile Western king prawns andKing George whiting (EPA, 2005).Seagrasses are ecologically important, providing plant production in the estuary, they support fishfauna and the growth of other organisms, offer protection from predators, provide an importantfeeding habitat for birds and assist in stabilising sediments (DEH, 2006).Mangroves are major primary producers for the inter-tidal area, they assist movement of fish at hightide, provide shelter and nesting sites for birds, provide a major role in the balance between erosionand deposition of sediments along the coast and create clearer water (DEH, 2006).The Dolphin SanctuaryA major feature of the Port Adelaide River and environs are the dolphins. There are 25 to 30bottlenose dolphins known to frequent the area, and around 250 bottlenose dolphins have beenrecorded in the area.South Australia is home to the common bottlenose dolphin, the indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin andthe short-beaked common dolphin. The indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin is the resident species of thePort Adelaide River and Barker Inlet.In June 2005 the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Act 2005 was proclaimed. The object of the Act is toprotect the dolphins and their habitat. This legislation sets out the boundary of the Sanctuary (Map 22page 165) and arrangements for the management of the species in this area. The Act requires aManagement Plan to be developed within the first twelve months of the Act’s operation.The dolphin sanctuary aims to promote the importance of the area as habitat for the resident andvisiting dolphins, and to develop improved management strategies for threats to the dolphins and theirenvironment. Examples of threats and impacts to be addressed include poor water quality and otherforms of pollution, introduced marine pests, harassment to the dolphin population via boat strikes,stabbings, shootings, entanglements, noise disturbance, loss of habitat and non-compliance withexisting regulations (Government of South Australia, 2002). Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary rangers nowpatrol the land and water of the sanctuary. These rangers also work with officers from Transport SA,PIRSA - Fisheries and the EPA to make sure that activities they regulate such as fishing practices,boat activities and regulation of industrial discharges do not pose unacceptable risks to the dolphins.(Source: Barker Inlet Port Estuary Committee (BIPEC), http://www.bipec.on.net/about.html)134