Ramsar-listed Wetlands - Office of the Environmental Monitor

Ramsar-Listed Wetlands Monitoring Program



Ramsar-listed Wetlands are wetlands that have been recognised for their significance under the International Convention on Wetlands. The Port Phillip Bay (western shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Wetland form the Ramsar-listed Wetland that was identified as being relevant to the Channel Deepening Project.

The wetland holds special significance for maintaining the ecological diversity of flora and fauna from the region, including migratory species.

Small changes to tidal levels, currents and hydrology around the Ramsar Wetlands as a result of deepening the Entrance to the Bay were predicted in the Channel Deepening Project’s Supplementary Environmental Effects Statement (SEES).

Photo: Aerial photograph of Mud Islands - courtesy of DPI Queenscliff.

Conducted by Port of Melbourne Corporation, the Ramsar-listed Wetlands Monitoring Program is one of nine Baywide Monitoring Programs. Its objective is to confirm that the Channel Deepening Project’s effects upon Ramsar-listed Wetlands are no greater than what was predicted in the SEES.

The program annually monitors the key coastal and intertidal vegetation communities including coastal saltmarsh and intertidal mudflats to detect changes in their extent and health. These vegetation communities are monitored at four locations within the Bay.

To provide a baseline, data was collected before dredging began. This will be used to compare information on the health and extent of vegetation recorded during and after completion of the dredging.

For more information on the Seagrass Monitoring Program please download the fact sheet.

Results



Results from this monitoring program will be available soon.


To view information and results from other programs that monitor Bay plants and animals click on the links below.
Little Penguins Monitoring Program
Seagrass Monitoring Program
Biodiversity in Marine Protected Environments Monitoring Program

Return to a list of all monitoring programs