Delta Coast (1198)
Netherlands, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Voordelta
Central coordinates: Latitude: 51.7167, Longitude: 3.5833
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): -20 00
Area of KBA (km2): 835.32949
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An extensive area of coastal waters of the North Sea, extending from Rotterdam in the north up to the Westerschelde estuary (032) in the south. The site also adjoins the closed-off delta area of the Rhine/Maas river system, which includes seven other IBAs (021-024, 027-029), and is close to Vlaamse Banken in Belgium. Important habitats include shallowly submerged sandbanks and intertidal mud- and sandflats. This site, together with sites 022 and 023, formed part of a single, larger site (former site NL046) in the previous pan-European IBA inventory (Grimmett and Jones 1989).
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 winter this area holds fluctuating numbers of Aythya marila (max. 5,550, 1992/93), Somateria mollissima (max. 9,968, 1992/93) and Melanitta nigra (max. 20,000, 1986/87). The mean total of waterbirds in February (1992/93-1994/95) exceeds 20,000.
Delineation rationale: This site is part of the Dutch Continental Shelf. 30 May 2017 - the smaller IBA of Westplaat (SitRecID 1199) has been merged into the larger IBA Voordelta (SitRecID 1198), so as to match the boundary of the Voordelta SPA.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (96%) | military (30%) | tourism/recreation (22%) | urban/industrial/transport (5%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 96 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The main threats concern shellfish fisheries and pollution. Sedimentation has increased due to the hydrological works on the Rhine/Maas delta, which have involved the closing of several sea arms, i.e. Haringvliet, Grevelingen and Oosterschelde (024, 027, 028). The SPA-designated Kwade Hoek (see site 023) also includes a small part of this area.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |