Entanglement is a problem for some birds in Western Port and several species, notably Pacific and Silver Gulls, Crested Terns, Little Pied Urban Direct impacts to Cormorants and Pelicans, are not infrequently found in the Western Port development Litter (including Almost sea and Minor Medium area entangled in fishing line or with fishhooks or jigs attached and either and microplastics) certain shorebirds dead or incapacitated (Dann 2011). Seabirds and shorebirds are also recreation susceptible to ingestion of micro-plastics with effects on nutrition and toxicity reported (Sutherland et al. 2012). 10 Urban Adversely affects development Litter (including visual amenity Almost Litter on beaches and near shore areas may impact on visual amenity in Minor Medium and microplastics) (aesthetic certain localized areas, particularly around drains and popular beaches. recreation enjoyment) 10 Urban Adversely affects development Litter (including Litter on beaches and near shore areas may impact on primary contact primary contact Unlikely Minor Low and microplastics) recreation in localised areas recreation recreation 4 Urban Adversely affects development Litter (including Litter on beaches and near shore areas may impact on secondary contact secondary contact Unlikely Minor Low and microplastics) recreation in localised areas recreation recreation 4 Impacts to fish Urban and invertebrates development Litter (including adversely affects Unlikely Moderate Low Derived from risks to fish and microplastics) recreational recreation fishing 6 Areas of CASS have been mapped around Western Port. If disturbed by prolonged drying of wetland areas or physical disturbance of the soil Metals surface, then sulphuric acid is formed and can liberate metals from the Disturbance liberated as a sediments. The risk from altered pH is likely to be negligible given the of Coastal result of buffering potential of seawater. However, the release of heavy metals Acid Sulphate oxidation of may be a risk, albeit localised and of low likelihood due to current Soils (CASS) CASS and strategies and policies in place to minimise disturbance of CASS acidity (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2009). Risks were assigned as being less likely and less severe than catchment derived toxicants Metals liberated as a Disturbance result of Adversely affects Risk to seagrass from toxicants will be predominantly via the effects of #N/A CASS oxidation of seagrass herbicides. Possibly not a plausible impact pathway. CASS and acidity 0
Urban development and recreation Litter (including microplastics) Direct impacts to sea and shorebirds Almost certain Minor Medium Entanglement is a problem for some birds in Western Port and several species, notably Pacific and Silver Gulls, Crested Terns, Little Pied Cormorants and Pelicans, are not infrequently found in the Western Port area entangled in fishing line or with fishhooks or jigs attached and either dead or incapacitated (Dann 2011). Seabirds and shorebirds are also susceptible to ingestion of micro-plastics with effects on nutrition and toxicity reported (Sutherland et al. 2012). 10 Urban development and recreation Litter (including microplastics) Adversely affects visual amenity (aesthetic enjoyment) Almost certain Minor Medium Litter on beaches and near shore areas may impact on visual amenity in localized areas, particularly around drains and popular beaches. 10 Urban development and recreation Litter (including microplastics) Adversely affects primary contact recreation Unlikely Minor Low Litter on beaches and near shore areas may impact on primary contact recreation in localised areas 4 Urban development and recreation Litter (including microplastics) Adversely affects secondary contact recreation Unlikely Minor Low Litter on beaches and near shore areas may impact on secondary contact recreation in localised areas 4 Urban development and recreation Litter (including microplastics) Impacts to fish and invertebrates adversely affects recreational fishing Unlikely Moderate Low Derived from risks to fish 6 Disturbance of Coastal Acid Sulphate Soils (CASS) Metals liberated as a result of oxidation of CASS and acidity Areas of CASS have been mapped around Western Port. If disturbed by prolonged drying of wetland areas or physical disturbance of the soil surface, then sulphuric acid is formed and can liberate metals from the sediments. The risk from altered pH is likely to be negligible given the buffering potential of seawater. However, the release of heavy metals may be a risk, albeit localised and of low likelihood due to current strategies and policies in place to minimise disturbance of CASS (Department of Sustainability and Environment 2009). Risks were assigned as being less likely and less severe than catchment derived toxicants Disturbance CASS Metals liberated as a result of oxidation of CASS and acidity Adversely affects seagrass #N/A Risk to seagrass from toxicants will be predominantly via the effects of herbicides. Possibly not a plausible impact pathway. 0
Western-Port-Ramsar-Site-Management-Plan_revised.docx