Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve
Northern Territory
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)[1]
Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve is located in Northern Territory
Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve
Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve
Nearest town or cityDarwin
Coordinates12°22′16″S 131°05′51″E / 12.37111°S 131.09750°E / -12.37111; 131.09750
Established2000[1]
Area123.0 km2 (47.5 sq mi)[2]
Managing authoritiesParks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory
WebsiteShoal Bay Coastal Reserve
See alsoProtected areas of the Northern Territory

Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Territory of Australia.

It is situated approximately 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Darwin and protects a large area of eucalypt woodland and saline wetlands.[3] The area is bounded by the Howard River to the west and Gunn Point to the east with all of Shoal Bay being found within the reserve, it also shares a common boundary with the Howard Springs Hunting Reserve and the Tree Point Conservation Area.[4]

It consists of extensive sand and mud-flats with much of the bay exposed at low tide. Numerous swamps surround the bay with remnants of a monsoon vine forest. Patches of rainforest are also found around the margins of the tidal area. The tidal flats are a known feeding and roosting area for migratory shorebirds in their non-breeding season. Aggregations of up to 5,000 waterbirds can be found in freshwater areas when the larger areas further south are dry.[5]

The area is home to three threatened species of plant: Cycas armstrongii, Ptychosperma macarthurii and Utricularia dunstaniae. The area is also home to eleven threatened species of animal including Australian bustard, red goshawk, northern quoll, flatback turtle and dwarf sawfish.[5]

The traditional owners of the area are the Larrakia people. Several large shell middens left by these people can be found in the upland intrusions into the swamp areas.[6]

The coastal reserve is categorised as an IUCN Category VI protected area.[1]

See also

Protected areas of the Northern Territory

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Terrestrial Protected Areas by Reserve Type in Northern Territory (2016)". CAPAD 2016. Australian government. 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Parks and Reserves" (PDF). Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "National Parks & Wildlife". Northern Territory Tourism Central. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve". Total Travel. Yahoo7. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Sites of Conservation Significance" (PDF). Northern Territory Government. 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve". Parks and Wildlife Commission. 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
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