Key Biodiversity Areas

Quoddy Region (11188)
Canada, North America

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1dD1a
Year of last assessment: 2022
National site name: Quoddy Region
Central coordinates: Latitude: 44.9500, Longitude: -66.9300
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 94
Area of KBA (km2): 133.09015
Protected area coverage (%): 0.35
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Site description: The Quoddy Region KBA is a body of seawater, primarily in Canadian waters, found in southern coastal New Brunswick. The site encompasses all the waters in an area roughly bounded by: Eastport, Maine, the west side of Campobello Island to East Quoddy Head, White Horse Island, and the east side of Deer Island to Deer Island Point. This includes an area called Head Harbour Passage. Upwellings and areas of high productivity occur here because of strong currents created by the narrow passages that lead through to Passamaquoddy Bay.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Quoddy Region was initially identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area. Recent analysis shows that this site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of global significance for one threatened bird species (Black-legged Kittiwake) and one aggregating bird species (Bonaparte's Gull). In addition to global significant bird species, this site also supports nationally significant populations of five aggregating bird species (Black-headed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Great Black-backed Gull, Little Gull, and Razorbill).
Manageability of the site: Quoddy Region intersects or contains one protected areas consisting of Whitehorse Island managed by Department of Natural Resources, Government of New Brunswick.
Delineation rationale: The Quoddy Region KBA encompasses all the waters in an area roughly bounded by Eastport, Maine, the west side of Campobello Island to East Quoddy Head, White Horse Island, and the east side of Deer Island to Deer Island Point. This includes an area called Head Harbour Passage.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Neritic50

Threats


Threat level 1Threat level 2Threat level 3Timing
Biological resource useFishing & harvesting aquatic resourcesOngoing
Human intrusions & disturbanceOngoing
PollutionIndustrial & military effluentsOngoing