Cowie Bay
Location:
4°10'-4°28'N, 1117°30'-117°53'E; extending from the Kaiimantan border in the south to Tawau in the north, southeastern Sabah.
Area:
c.120,000 ha.
Altitude:
Sea level.
Biogeographical Province:
4.25.12.
Wetland type:
01, 02, 03, 06, 07 & 10.
Description of site:
An oblong-shaped bay, approximately 50 km long and 10 km wide, aligned with its mouth facing southeast. The head of the bay is lined with extensive mangrove swamps and includes a complex of creeks and mangrove islands. Near the mouth of the bay, the mangrove fringe and intertidal mudflats are less extensive. About twelve rivers flow into the bay from upland areas, mainly to the north and west, the main rivers being Sungei Merutai Besar, Sungei Kalabakan and Sungei Serudong. The island of Pulau Sebatik bounds the southern edge of the bay, the mangrove forest and mudflats continuing across the border into Kalimantan. The major town of Tawau lies on the north shore of the bay, about 10 km from its mouth. The salinity at the head of bay fluctuates with seasonal variations in rainfall.
Climatic conditions:
Humid tropical climate.
Principal vegetation:
Mangrove forest; lowland rainforest in adjacent areas.
Land tenure:
State owned (Sabah State Government).
Conservation measures taken:
Some 39,318 ha of mangrove forest have been gazetted as the Tawau Mangrove Forest Reserve (Class V), 164 ha as the Batumapun Virgin Jungle Reserve, and 830 ha as the Umas Umas Virgin Jungle Reserve.
Conservation measures proposed:
A survey of the flora and fauna should be undertaken in the near future to identify key areas for nature conservation and the establishment of protected areas.
Land use:
Large-scale commercial exploitation of mangroves, and fishing to supply the markets at Tawau, one of Sabah's most important agricultural areas. Sabah's oldest and largest commercial prawn farm is situated in the bay.
Possible Changes in Land use:
There is a possibility that further areas of mangrove forest will be cleared for aquaculture ponds and agricultural land.
Disturbances and threats:
Excessive logging and clearing of mangroves for agricultural land. Over-exploitation of the forest in Tawau Mangrove Forest Reserve has left extensive tracts of bare land, and this over-exploitation continues.
Economic and social values:
The mangroves are of major importance in sustaining local fisheries and could, if properly managed, support commercial forestry exploitation on a sustainable basis.
Fauna:
No information.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
Little if any work seems to have been carried out on the fauna and flora of the area.
References:
Payne (1986); Phillipps (1984).
Criteria for Inclusion:
1b, 1e, 2c.
Source:
J. Payne.