Scott Inlet (11310)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2008
National site name: Scott Inlet
Central coordinates: Latitude: 71.0512, Longitude: -71.1292
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 365
Area of KBA (km2): 369.61862
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Scott Inlet lies along the indented eastern coast of Baffin Island, about 120km northwest of the community of Clyde Inlet. The islands within the inlet, and the adjacent mainland areas, have topography that is steep and rugged; elevations often reach heights of over 1,500 metres and there are numerous ice-capped areas and extensive snowfields. Scott Island, which is situated within the entrance to the inlet, has steep cliffs that rise as much as 365 metres from the sea. Steep cliffs are also located to the south along the mainland coast, with a colony of Northern Fulmars being concentrated along this five-km stretch of coast. The cliffs are mostly bare with some grassy-turfed ledges. Beyond the inlet in Baffin Bay, White Whales and Narwhals are seen, and closer to shore, Walruses, Polar Bears, Harp and Ringed Seals have been observed.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: In 1973, a provisional estimate of 25,000 pairs of Northern Fulmars was recorded at the Scott Inlet colonies. In 1986, the population at the colony was reassessed and an estimate of 10,000 pairs was generated. Fulmar colonies are difficult to accurately census because the colonies are usually in isolated locations and the nest locations are often high up on a cliff and difficult to see. Although this is one of the smaller colonies of fulmars in arctic Canada, at 10,000 pairs it would contain about 3.2% of the Canadian population. With its location on steep, high coastal cliffs, the Scott Inlet colony is typical of the Canadian arctic nesting sites for Northern Fulmar. Breeding Glaucous Gulls can also be found scattered throughout the colony and on the southwest part of Scott Island. Upwards of 100 nesting pairs have been estimated, which may represent as much as 1% of the Canadian population.
Delineation rationale: Type 1 marine IBA: suitable for the seaward extension approach.
Habitats
Land use: not utilised
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Marine Neritic | 50 |