Commercial Many of the waterbirds in Western Port feed in a variety of habitats both development Impacts to inside and outside the Ramsar Site. However, obligate intertidal feeding Increased (ports, seagrass affect Unlikely Negligible Negligible species such as Black Swan and Chestnut Teal could be affected (Dann sediments marinas, waterbird feeding 2011). Waterbirds are highly mobile and could move to nearby dredging) environments such as Port Philip Bay or Corner Inlet. 2 Impacts to fish and reduced Commercial visibility adversely development Increased affects feeding Increased sediment in the water column may reduce the foraging (ports, Unlikely Negligible Negligible sediments seabirds efficiencies of sight-feeding seabirds. (Dann 2011). marinas, (including dredging) threatened species) 2 Impacts to Commercial primary development Suspended sediments can reduce primary productivity, and consequently Increased productivity (ports, Unlikely Negligible Negligible secondary productivity, and may also reduce secondary productivity directly sediments reduce food marinas, by reducing the efficiency of filter-feeding mudflat biota (Dann 2011). availability for dredging) shorebirds 2 Commercial Increased TSS development adversely affects Increased While turbid water is less visually appealing than clear water, there is no (ports, visual amenity Unlikely Negligible Negligible sediments evidence of change since the time of listing. marinas, (aesthetic dredging) enjoyment) 2 Commercial Increased TSS development Increased adversely affects While turbid water is less visually appealing than clear water, there is no (ports, Rare Negligible Negligible sediments primary contact evidence of change since the time of listing. marinas, recreation dredging) 1 Commercial Increased TSS development Increased adversely affects While turbid water is less visually appealing than clear water, there is no (ports, Rare Negligible Negligible sediments secondary contact evidence of change since the time of listing. marinas, recreation dredging) 1 Commercial Impacts to fish development Increased adversely affect (ports, Unlikely Negligible Negligible Derived from risks to fish sediments recreational marinas, fishing dredging) 2
Commercial development (ports, marinas, dredging) Increased sediments Impacts to seagrass affect waterbird feeding Unlikely Negligible Negligible Many of the waterbirds in Western Port feed in a variety of habitats both inside and outside the Ramsar Site. However, obligate intertidal feeding species such as Black Swan and Chestnut Teal could be affected (Dann 2011). Waterbirds are highly mobile and could move to nearby environments such as Port Philip Bay or Corner Inlet. 2 Commercial development (ports, marinas, dredging) Increased sediments Impacts to fish and reduced visibility adversely affects feeding seabirds (including threatened species) Unlikely Negligible Negligible Increased sediment in the water column may reduce the foraging efficiencies of sight-feeding seabirds. (Dann 2011). 2 Commercial development (ports, marinas, dredging) Increased sediments Impacts to primary productivity reduce food availability for shorebirds Unlikely Negligible Negligible Suspended sediments can reduce primary productivity, and consequently secondary productivity, and may also reduce secondary productivity directly by reducing the efficiency of filter-feeding mudflat biota (Dann 2011). 2 Commercial development (ports, marinas, dredging) Increased sediments Increased TSS adversely affects visual amenity (aesthetic enjoyment) Unlikely Negligible Negligible While turbid water is less visually appealing than clear water, there is no evidence of change since the time of listing. 2 Commercial development (ports, marinas, dredging) Increased sediments Increased TSS adversely affects primary contact recreation Rare Negligible Negligible While turbid water is less visually appealing than clear water, there is no evidence of change since the time of listing. 1 Commercial development (ports, marinas, dredging) Increased sediments Increased TSS adversely affects secondary contact recreation Rare Negligible Negligible While turbid water is less visually appealing than clear water, there is no evidence of change since the time of listing. 1 Commercial development (ports, marinas, dredging) Increased sediments Impacts to fish adversely affect recreational fishing Unlikely Negligible Negligible Derived from risks to fish 2
Western-Port-Ramsar-Site-Management-Plan_revised.docx