Estuaire de la Bidassoa et Baie de Fontarabie (2176)
France, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2000
National site name: Estuaire de la Bidassoa et Baie de Fontarabie
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.4000, Longitude: -1.7000
System: marine, terrestrial
Area of KBA (km2): 67.19388
Protected area coverage (%): 99.63
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An estuary, bay and open sea, with mudflats, sandy beaches, cliffs and rocky islets.
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: This is an important site for wintering and passage waterbirds and passage auks (Alcidae). The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on passage and in winter, on a regular basis (including Phalacrocorax carbo 4,000 (passage); Anser anser 10,000 (passage); Vanellus vanellus 6,000 (winter)). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Tetrax tetrax (passage).
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 45 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 5 | |
| Marine Neritic | 45 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: No serious threats are known at this site. Disturbance has declined since entry to the estuary was prohibited.