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Morning Inlet
Morning Inlet – located at the very base of the Gulf of Carpentaria - is a fundamental part of the greater wetland provinces of Southern Gulf Aggregation wetlands. These wetlands are the largest continuous estuarine wetlands of its type in northern Australia and one of the most important areas for shorebirds in Australia.
Coastal wetland wilderness on the Bynoe-Norman River floodplain. Photo: Wayne Lawler / Ecopix
Conservation and cultural values
The Morning Inlet catchment - unique and remote, without any major towns - is increasingly recognised by scientists and naturalists as an internationally important wetland and habitat for waterbirds and migratory birds. Fringed at the coast by dunes, saline mud flats and mangrove-lined estuaries, with grasslands and woodlands covering much of the rest of the catchment, much of the area becomes inundated during the wet season.
The blanket of interconnected wetlands, rich in food and replenishing nutrients, quickly attract a stunning array of bird life. So significant are these wetlands, that they are recognised by the Australian Government as one of the largest, most diverse and least fragmented natural wetland aggregations in Australia.
Rare and threatened species such as Worrells Turtle, the Red Goshawk, Gouldian Finch and Estuarine Crocodile all inhabit this stunning area, with connected wildlife corridors all throughout the catchment.
The Morning Inlet-Bynoe River Fish Habitat Area – a form or marine protected area – covers much of the estuarine areas of the Morning Inlet catchment, with the aim of protecting the important diversity of fish in the area, such as Barramundi, Queenfish, King Salmon and Grey Mackerel, as well as the local mangrove communities. The commercial fishing industry in the Gulf of Carpentaria depends on the delivery of natural flows of the Morning Inlet and other wild rivers in the region to ensure the health of fisheries.
The Kukatj people are the traditional owners of the Morning Inlet catchment area and maintain strong cultural and spiritual connections with the land and rivers. The traditional ecological knowledge and health of these communities is in turn critical to the ongoing health of this wild river system.
Threats
The Settlement Creek is remote and currently there is little human demand for water extraction in this area. The major present threat in this area is cattle grazing; if not managed sustainably, cattle can cause major soil erosion, trample vegetation and pollute river systems. Wild River protection, as well as the Indigenous Wild River Ranger program, will help address these impacts.