Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland Map

Summary

Moreton Bay was listed as an internationally important wetland under the Ramsar Convention in 1993.

Covering more than 120,000 hectares, the Moreton Bay Ramsar site includes many different coastal habitats and environments from freshwater wetlands, beaches, mud flats, saltmarsh, mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds.

The Bay’s diversity of wetlands provides habitat for more than 750 species of fish, and the marine environment supports a high diversity of marine mammals including eight species of dolphin, five species of whale, and the dugong. All six marine turtle species known to exist in Australia are also found in Moreton Bay. It supports more than 50,000 wetland birds, including 28 species of migratory birds that travel from around the world to feed and roost.

The Moreton Bay Ramsar Wetland is internationally recognised for its biodiversity and ecological significance and its rich cultural heritage.

The Bay’s Traditional Owners include the Kabi Kabi, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh, and Quandamooka people. The area has many archaeological sites, some of which show evidence of Aboriginal people’s presence dating back 20,000 years. Traditional Owners today maintain social and cultural connections to the region.

What is Ramsar?

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance is an international treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. Ramsar is the Iranian City where the Convention was adopted in 1971.

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