This very low-gradient, low-energy coastline, containing a broad lateral extent of subtidal seagrass meadows, intertidal mangroves and supratidal saltmarshes and salinas, extends from the Adelaide metropolitan area as far as the head of Gulf St Vincent, and is also known as the "Samphire Coast".

[citation needed] The coastline north of Parham, outside the proposed sanctuary, also has a high degree of protection through being in the Port Wakefield Proof and Experimental Establishment, and the Clinton Conservation Park.

[citation needed] The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary is a protected area established by the SA government for the northeast coast of Gulf St Vincent extending from Adelaide to its immediate north with the view of achieving the five key outcomes:[5]: 7 A driver for the proposal is the need to rehabilitate land previously used at Dry Creek, St Kilda and other localities as salt pans and managing the environmental risks arising from the cessation of the salt evaporation process, such as exposing of acid sulphate soils.

[5]: 5, 10 The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary extends from Barker Inlet in the south to Parham in the north over a distance of 60 kilometres (37 miles).

Its extent overlaps and adjoins existing protected areas such as the Port Gawler and Torrens Island conservation parks, the Upper Gulf St Vincent Marine Park, the Barker Inlet-St Kilda Aquatic Reserve, the St Kilda – Chapman Creek Aquatic Reserve and the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.