Sundominlahti bay and Söderfjärden fields (1338)
Finland, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2025
National site name: Sundominlahti-Söderfjärden
Central coordinates: Latitude: 63.0000, Longitude: 21.5833
System: terrestrial, marine
Elevation (m): 0 to 0
Area of KBA (km2): 25.97764
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A shallow eutrophic sea bay at the mouth of the Laihia river lying south of the town of Vaasa. Most of the bay is open water, although there are wide marshes, and extensive beds of reed <I>Phragmites</I>. To the south lies the agricultural area of Söderfjärden, which was previously a sea bay. The IBA also includes an undisturbed area of inner archipelago, where <I>Grus grus </I>from the farmland roost.</P>
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: The most important staging area for <I>Grus grus</I> in Finland. It is also important for other staging waterbirds.</P>
Manageability of the site: Site identified based on BirdLife International's Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, under which manageability is strongly recommended but not explicitly documented
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The active use of farmland in Söderfjärden is very important for staging cranes. Some farmers have requested a licence to shoot <I>Grus grus</I> since they cause damage to crops. Part of the area is a candidate SAC.</P>
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
Contributors: Site identified based on Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by the BirdLife International Partnership