Marine waters along the Curonian Spit (222)
Lithuania, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1b, A1d, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2004
National site name: Kursiu nerijos pajuris (Baltijos juros akvatorija ties Kursiu Nerija)
Central coordinates: Latitude: 55.5000, Longitude: 21.0333
System: marine
Area of KBA (km2): 497.53517
Protected area coverage (%): 59.20
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: An offshore area (extending up to 40 km in length) in the Baltic Sea near the Kuronian spit.
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: In winter the area supports 6-10% of the western Palearctic population of Melanitta fusca (at densities of up to 1,000 birds/km2as well as large numbers of other seaduck, e.g. Clangula hyemalis (up to 10,000 birds). The site holds more than 20,000 waterbirds on a regular basis.
Habitats
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture | tourism/recreation (10%) | urban/industrial/transport
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Neritic | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The site is covered by the national IBA monitoring network.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Only in the future |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Only in the future |