Witless Bay Islands (11192)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2022
National site name: Witless Bay Islands
Central coordinates: Latitude: 47.2200, Longitude: -52.7900
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 88
Area of KBA (km2): 62.71352
Protected area coverage (%): 48.63
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Witless Bay Islands are located 4 km off the east coast of the Avalon Peninsula, approximately 35 km south of St. John's, Newfoundland. The site consists of four small islands: Green, Great, Gull, and Pee Pee. All are rocky, with low cliffs and steep, grassy slopes. The two larger islands, Great and Gull, also support coniferous forest communities.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Witless Bay Islands 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 three threatened bird species (Atlantic Puffin, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Leach's Storm-Petrel) and one aggregating bird species (Common Murre). In addition to global significant bird species, this site also supports nationally significant populations of four aggregating bird species (Atlantic Puffin, Black-headed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Razorbill).
Manageability of the site: Witless Bay Islands intersects or contains one protected areas consisting of Witless Bay Ecological Reserve managed by Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Delineation rationale: The Witless Bay IslandsKBA consists of four small islands: Green, Great, Gull, and Pee Pee.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grassland | 8 | |
| Marine Neritic | 17 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 8 | |
| Forest | 8 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 8 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Ongoing | ||
| Other options | Other threat | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Ongoing |