Sireniki shore of Chukotka (16594)
Russia (Asian), Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Sireniki shore of Chukotka
Central coordinates: Latitude: 64.2972, Longitude: -173.6667
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 200
Area of KBA (km2): 658.33857
Protected area coverage (%): 1.24
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: This recurring nearshore polynya lies ai the 66-98 foot (20-30 m) isobath south of the Chukotsky Peninsula between Meechkin Spit and Cape Chukotsky. It extends 37-43 miles (59-69 km) from shore and in warmer winters may connect with the St Lawrence island polynya to the southeast. The polynya is formed by a combination of prevailing offshore north-winds and strong coastal currents.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: This extensive polynya constitutes one of the most northern wintering habitats for eiders (including the threatened Steller’s eider) and long-tailed ducks, along with lesser numbers of pelagic cormorants, glaucous gulls, ivory gulls, Ross’s gulls, thick-billed murres, black guillemots and Kittlitz’s murrelets. Its open waters in a vast sea of ice are believed primarily responsible for the existence of the most northerly northern fulmar colonies in the Pacific. These waters are also important during spring migration for snow geese, emperor geese, brant, eiders and long-tailed ducks, and provide summer feeding grounds for the 1.5 million seabirds of 13 species that nest in colonies along the adjacent coast. Other notable wildlife: Several hundred Pacific walrus are believed to breed in and around the polynya. Bowhead and gray whales feed there along with pods of beluga whales and seals. Polar bears are attracted to its ice edges in search of seals.
Delineation rationale: 2014-08-12 (BL Secretariat): centroid coords adjusted and site area changed from 1000 ha to 30740 ha (rounded), on basis of refined polygon downloaded from Spatial Database on Important Bird Areas of Russia 2014 (© Russian Bird Conservation Union, © Transparent World).
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The polynya with its adjacent coastal-cliff formations is characterized by open ocean waters with only occasional drift ice.
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 50 | |
| Grassland | 50 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Fuel spills, disturbance from ship noise and possible illegal hunting can be expected with increased vessel traffic along the Northern Shipping Route. Should polynya waters be invaded by commercial fishing fleets, significant impacts can be anticipated on marine food webs.
Additional information
References: Audubon Alaska / BirdLife Asia / RBCU (2004) Important Bird Areas of the Bering Sea ecoregion. Anchorage, USA: Audubon Alaska. 46 pp.
Contributors: The map polygon is provided courtesy of the Spatial Database on Important Bird Areas of Russia 2014 (© Russian Bird Conservation Union, © Transparent World).