Baie de Gaspé (11417)
Canada, North America
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d
Year of last assessment: 2022
National site name: Baie de Gaspé
Central coordinates: Latitude: 48.7700, Longitude: -64.3200
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 1 to 105
Area of KBA (km2): 268.57527
Protected area coverage (%): 3.06
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Baie de Gaspé, at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, is about 35 km in length. The town of Gaspé is at the west end of the bay. Two sandspits cut across the bay including the 3 km long Sandy Beach Point. Included in the study site are the sandflats and cliffs near Douglastown, the cliffs between Bighead Cape, the open waters of the bay, the shores up to the high tide mark, and the estuaries and salt marshes where the St. Jean, York and Dartmouth rivers meet the bay. Vegetation is dominated by low marsh species and Eelgrass grows in grassy areas. Atlantic Salmon use the three rivers, while a few whale species-at-risk visit the bay at times. Florillon National Park lies on the northern border of this site.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: Baie de Gaspé 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 (Long-tailed Duck). In addition to global significant bird species, this site also supports nationally significant populations of three aggregating bird species (Brant, Long-tailed Duck, and Northern Gannet).
Manageability of the site: Baie de Gaspé intersects or contains four protected areas consisting of Baie De Penouille 18 - 13 - 07 Water Fowl Gathering Area and Cap Gaspé Nord 18 - 12 - 06 Water Fowl Gathering Area managed by Québec, Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks; Estuaire
Delineation rationale: The Baie de Gaspé, at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec, is about 35 km in length. The town of Gaspé is at the west end of the bay. Two sandspits cut across the bay including the 3 km long Sandy Beach Point. Included in the KBA are the sandflats and cliffs near Douglastown, the cliffs between Bighead Cape, the open waters of the bay, the shores up to the high tide mark, and the estuaries and salt marshes where the St. Jean, York and Dartmouth rivers meet the bay.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Intertidal | 15 | |
| Marine Neritic | 15 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 15 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Ongoing | |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Ongoing |