Sibsey Island

Sibsey Island
Sibsey Island
Geography
Location Spencer Gulf
Coordinates 34°39′00″S 136°11′00″E / 34.65000°S 136.18333°E / -34.65000; 136.18333Coordinates: 34°39′00″S 136°11′00″E / 34.65000°S 136.18333°E / -34.65000; 136.18333
Archipelago Sir Joseph Banks Group
Highest elevation 26 m (85 ft)
Administration
South Australia
Demographics
Population 0

Sibsey Island is an island in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Sir Joseph Banks Group in Spencer Gulf. It was discovered on 21 February 1802 by Matthew Flinders.[1] In modern times, the island is uninhabited.

Geography

There are two anchorages on the island, one on the western side of the island, and another on the east. The nearest island within the Sir Joseph Banks Group is English Island. There is a navigational aid located on 2m high pile on the island's highest point, i.e. 26m above sea level.[2] Dangerous Reef, a nearby reef, makes approaching the island in large craft hazardous.

Wildlife

Australian sea lions from nearby English Island are often seen on the rocks near to Sibsey. Seabirds nest on the island, but there are no other large animals present. Marine predators often hunt in the channel between Sibsey and English Islands. The island is part of the Sir Joseph Banks Islands Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance as a breeding site for seabirds and for Cape Barren geese.[3] Guano was collected from the island in the early 20th century. One party to the island circa 1916 left two members on the island for twelve days, during which time they survived by eating little penguins and their eggs.[4] In 2004, "few" little penguins were present on Sibsey Island. As of 2011, the colony's status is unknown.[5]

Economy

The island has no native economy, being uninhabited. However, the waters surrounding it are used extensively by recreational fishermen. The nearby Dangerous Reef is also a popular tourism spot, with scuba diving operators taking advantage of the natural formations and fish stocks. It is a significant bird, sea lion and great white shark breeding area.[6] The area is also covered under the Lower Eyre Peninsula Aquaculture Policy.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Flinders, Matthew (1966) [1814]. A Voyage to Terra Australis : undertaken for the purpose of completing the discovery of that vast country, and prosecuted in the years 1801, 1802, and 1803 in His Majesty's ship the Investigator, and subsequently in the armed vessel Porpoise and Cumberland Schooner; with an account of the shipwreck of the Porpoise, arrival of the Cumberland at Mauritius, and imprisonment of the commander during six years and a half in that island. (Facsimile ed.). Adelaide; Facsimile reprint of: London : G. and W. Nicol, 1814 ed. In two volumes, with an Atlas (3 volumes): Libraries Board of South Australia. pp. 228–229. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Listed by State (i.e. lighthouses & navigation aids)". Australian Lighthouses. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "IBA: Sir Joseph Banks Islands". Birdata. Birds Australia. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  4. ↑ "ENGLISH LAD'S ADVENTURES Port Lincoln, July 19.". The Express and Telegraph. 1916-07-24. p. 1. Retrieved 2015-11-27.
  5. ↑ Wiebkin, A. S. (2011) Conservation management priorities for little penguin populations in Gulf St Vincent. Report to Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board. South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No. F2011/000188-1. SARDI Research Report Series No.588. 97pp.
  6. ↑ "AMCS Submission on Lower Eyre Peninsula Aquaculture Management Plan". Conservation Council of South Australia. 2005. Retrieved 2006-10-12.

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