Esashi, Menashidomari (15002)
Japan, Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Esashi, Menashidomari
Central coordinates: Latitude: 45.0333, Longitude: 142.5167
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 15
Area of KBA (km2): 0.04632
Protected area coverage (%): 10.32
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Esashi Town is long (from north to south is 54 km) and narrow (from east to west is 7.5 km), and faces the Sea of Okhotsk. A rocky 600 m island, which is connected by a dike to the town, is a breeding site for the Black-tailed Gull in Menashidomari area. Menashidomari is on the skirt of Kamuimisaki which is on the tip of north of the town. Gometo islet which is 2 km off shore is one of few Okhotsk breeding sites of Slaty-backed Gull and Japanese Cormorant, besides the rocky island. The town is 50,947 ha, 68% of which is mountain forests and 24% wilderness areas. Drifting sea ice brought by East Sakhalin current used to cover vast areas for many days in the past but less so now. The town's annual mean temperature is the lowest in Japan along with the neighboring town.
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.
Habitats
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Grassland | 50 |
Threats
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Only in the future |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Named species | Only in the future |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Only in the future | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Only in the future | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Shipping lanes | Only in the past and unlikely to return |