The international Ramsar Convention aims to halt the loss of wetlands and conserve those that remain. Victoria has 12 wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance. South-east of Melbourne, Corner Inlet is home to a 67,000-hectare Ramsar site. 

The area's broadleaf seagrass habitat supports a diverse range of species. Corner Inlet also supports one of the few remaining commercial fisheries in Victoria. The seagrass is a critical part of the fishery, supporting many commercial species.

Yet, the broadleaf seagrass is under threat from things such as increased sediment and nutrient inputs from catchment activities. When there are too many nutrients in the water, algal blooms can occur. Algal blooms can reduce light intensity, which consequently inhibits seagrass growth.

Fortunately, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority is supporting riparian restoration efforts. The Corner Inlet Water Quality Improvement Plan is guiding this work.

The high priority Agnes River catchment has been a focus for these works for over a decade. This is due to historically high loads of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediments. Further, the broadleaf seagrass bed is located near the estuary discharge point into Corner Inlet. 

Partnerships between the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Landcare and local landholders have made significant progress to remediate both riparian waterways and gullies. With Victorian Government funding over the next few years, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority aims to rehabilitate 100% of the mainstem of the Agnes River by 2024. The mainstem is the main course of a river or stream. 

You can read more about the impact of sediment and nutrient loads in the State of the Marine and Coastal Environment 2021 Report