Western Istrian Maritime Zone (24002)
Croatia, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2010
National site name: Akvatorij zapadne Istre
Central coordinates: Latitude: 44.9970, Longitude: 13.7370
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 54
Area of KBA (km2): 154.55156
Protected area coverage (%): 100.00
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The inshore waters with bays are suitable for fish-eating seabirds. The islets and coastal cliffs (as in National Park Brijuni) are nesting areas for Shags. It is the only part of the Croatian littoral where Kingfishers breed in eroded, bare coasts. Birds are threatened mainly by unregulated recreational activities and tourism, unregulated construction on the coast and overfishing.
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.
Delineation rationale: Area changed from 79745 ha to 14880 ha, as part of 2010 revision of IBAs/proposed SPAs.